Gallas: I want to play in my proper position

CHELSEA’S French defender William Gallas believes he will never be considered one of the best central defenders in the world because he is being played out of position by coach Jose Mourinho.

The player’s hopes of returning to his more orthodox role alongside skipper John Terry were reduced yet further by Wayne Bridge’s decision to join Fulham on loan for the rest of the season.

Mourinho considers Gallas the natural replacement for Asier del Horno when the Spaniard is not selected and against Charlton on Sunday the versatile defender is expected to play at right-back.

Gallas will move into the final year of his current contract after the summer when further negotiations are due about extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.

Gallas believes he demonstrated his best form in the 2002-03 season when he played almost exclusively at the heart of the Chelsea back four and was voted into the PFA’s Team of the Year for the first and only time.

“It was my best season,” said Gallas. “I played in my position. I showed everybody what I can do, how I’m good. It is difficult to judge one player when he doesn’t have one position.

“At the end of the season, where are they going to pick me in the best team in England? It is not easy.

“It is not easy to put me at centre-back if I have not played there. But I hope one day I can show everybody again what I can do.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s in-form striker-turned-midfielder Eidur Gudjohnsen is hoping to keep the role against Charlton on Sunday.

Gudjohnsen insists the reason for the Blues’ success is purely down to the consistency they’ve shown since Mourinho took charge of the side at the beginning of last season.

“You have to put it down to consistency,” he said. “We lost one game to Manchester United this season and have bounced back by winning ten on the spin.

“We did that in a similar fashion last year after we lost at Manchester City.”