The iconic midfielder, who won the league twice during his time at Stamford Bridge, is widely regarded as one of the most influential players in the Premier League era.

His dominance in the middle of the park led to the holding midfield position being affectionately renamed "the Makelele role".

In recent years, Nemanja Matic operated in a similar role for the Blues – but after his surprise departure for Manchester United, Chelsea looked to promising young Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko.

He was drafted in following a blockbuster £39m move, after reportedly turning down interest from United to complete the move.

But since his arrival, the 23-year-old has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League – and was sent off inside half an hour during Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat against Watford on Monday.

Speaking about Bakayoko’s arrival at the club earlier this summer, Makelele appeared to predict that the Paris native would find the transition to English football difficult at first.

“To play as a midfielder, you need to concentrate 100%,” Makelele explained.

“If there’s always a little problem here, little problem there, you can’t focus on your job.

“I talked a lot with him [Bakayoko], like a full month with him every day.”

The 44-year-old was appointed technical director at Monaco in January 2016, where he stayed for a year before joining Paul Clement’s backroom staff at Swansea in January 2017.

“Focusing on [Bakayoko], not just him, but a lot of players like Mbappe and Lemar who also were on the bench [at Monaco],” he continued.

“When I decided I was leaving, I said to the boss, this player needs to play more, he needs more competition and then you will see.

“The next season, it’s like genius, no?

“I think signing for Chelsea will be good for him, he’ll be stronger.

“He has good qualities. He needs time and he needs to learn also in the Premier League as it’s not easy.

“But he is not one to get scared.

“He makes the decisions all the time, sometimes it’s wrong but this kind of player will make mistakes in order to get better.”

The iconic midfielder, who won the league twice during his time at Stamford Bridge, is widely regarded as one of the most influential players in the Premier League era.

His dominance in the middle of the park led to the holding midfield position being affectionately renamed "the Makelele role".

In recent years, Nemanja Matic operated in a similar role for the Blues – but after his surprise departure for Manchester United, Chelsea looked to promising young Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko.

He was drafted in following a blockbuster £39m move, after reportedly turning down interest from United to complete the move.

But since his arrival, the 23-year-old has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League – and was sent off inside half an hour during Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat against Watford on Monday.

Speaking about Bakayoko’s arrival at the club earlier this summer, Makelele appeared to predict that the Paris native would find the transition to English football difficult at first.

“To play as a midfielder, you need to concentrate 100%,” Makelele explained.

“If there’s always a little problem here, little problem there, you can’t focus on your job.

“I talked a lot with him [Bakayoko], like a full month with him every day.”

The 44-year-old was appointed technical director at Monaco in January 2016, where he stayed for a year before joining Paul Clement’s backroom staff at Swansea in January 2017.

“Focusing on [Bakayoko], not just him, but a lot of players like Mbappe and Lemar who also were on the bench [at Monaco],” he continued.

“When I decided I was leaving, I said to the boss, this player needs to play more, he needs more competition and then you will see.

“The next season, it’s like genius, no?

“I think signing for Chelsea will be good for him, he’ll be stronger.

“He has good qualities. He needs time and he needs to learn also in the Premier League as it’s not easy.

“But he is not one to get scared.

“He makes the decisions all the time, sometimes it’s wrong but this kind of player will make mistakes in order to get better.”

The iconic midfielder, who won the league twice during his time at Stamford Bridge, is widely regarded as one of the most influential players in the Premier League era.

His dominance in the middle of the park led to the holding midfield position being affectionately renamed "the Makelele role".

In recent years, Nemanja Matic operated in a similar role for the Blues – but after his surprise departure for Manchester United, Chelsea looked to promising young Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko.

He was drafted in following a blockbuster £39m move, after reportedly turning down interest from United to complete the move.

But since his arrival, the 23-year-old has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League – and was sent off inside half an hour during Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat against Watford on Monday.

Speaking about Bakayoko’s arrival at the club earlier this summer, Makelele appeared to predict that the Paris native would find the transition to English football difficult at first.

“To play as a midfielder, you need to concentrate 100%,” Makelele explained.

“If there’s always a little problem here, little problem there, you can’t focus on your job.

“I talked a lot with him [Bakayoko], like a full month with him every day.”

The 44-year-old was appointed technical director at Monaco in January 2016, where he stayed for a year before joining Paul Clement’s backroom staff at Swansea in January 2017.

“Focusing on [Bakayoko], not just him, but a lot of players like Mbappe and Lemar who also were on the bench [at Monaco],” he continued.

“When I decided I was leaving, I said to the boss, this player needs to play more, he needs more competition and then you will see.

“The next season, it’s like genius, no?

“I think signing for Chelsea will be good for him, he’ll be stronger.

“He has good qualities. He needs time and he needs to learn also in the Premier League as it’s not easy.

“But he is not one to get scared.

“He makes the decisions all the time, sometimes it’s wrong but this kind of player will make mistakes in order to get better.”

The iconic midfielder, who won the league twice during his time at Stamford Bridge, is widely regarded as one of the most influential players in the Premier League era.

His dominance in the middle of the park led to the holding midfield position being affectionately renamed "the Makelele role".

In recent years, Nemanja Matic operated in a similar role for the Blues – but after his surprise departure for Manchester United, Chelsea looked to promising young Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko.

He was drafted in following a blockbuster £39m move, after reportedly turning down interest from United to complete the move.

But since his arrival, the 23-year-old has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League – and was sent off inside half an hour during Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat against Watford on Monday.

Speaking about Bakayoko’s arrival at the club earlier this summer, Makelele appeared to predict that the Paris native would find the transition to English football difficult at first.

“To play as a midfielder, you need to concentrate 100%,” Makelele explained.

“If there’s always a little problem here, little problem there, you can’t focus on your job.

“I talked a lot with him [Bakayoko], like a full month with him every day.”

The 44-year-old was appointed technical director at Monaco in January 2016, where he stayed for a year before joining Paul Clement’s backroom staff at Swansea in January 2017.

“Focusing on [Bakayoko], not just him, but a lot of players like Mbappe and Lemar who also were on the bench [at Monaco],” he continued.

“When I decided I was leaving, I said to the boss, this player needs to play more, he needs more competition and then you will see.

“The next season, it’s like genius, no?

“I think signing for Chelsea will be good for him, he’ll be stronger.

“He has good qualities. He needs time and he needs to learn also in the Premier League as it’s not easy.

“But he is not one to get scared.

“He makes the decisions all the time, sometimes it’s wrong but this kind of player will make mistakes in order to get better.”