Makelele determined to play on for Chelsea

CHELSEA midfielder Claude Makelele insists he has no intention of retiring from the game even though his international career will end after France’s Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

The 33-year-old has finally reached an agreement with his national side over his international future but Makelele is adamant that he has no plans to call it a day at club level.

Makelele was at the centre of a “club-versus-country” debate earlier this season when he was called up by France for the start of their Euro 2008 campaign despite attempting to retire from international football after the World Cup final defeat by Italy in the summer.

Now, having reached a settlement on his international retirement with Chelsea’s blessing, Makelele wants to make it clear there is no prospect of him retiring from the game completely — until his body tells him otherwise.

Makelele said: “I came to Chelsea with ambition. I came to work hard. My attitude is I’ll play every game. When I’m on the pitch I give 100%.

“The day when my body stops, when it tells me it’s not possible to give more, I will stop.

“But now my body is okay, so I go on. I’m fine. I feel the same as before. They tell me sometimes I’m an old man and now I play more from experience.

“I play more from my head, but I feel the same.”

France coach Raymond Domenech is adamant that the problem over Makelele’s use at international level is over and says he will use the player sparingly during their qualification bid.

Domenech said: “I know perfectly well that Claude may not necessarily play all the games in the year because there are other players too and at a certain time he will stop.

“There is nothing worse than a direct and definitive end to a career. You should prepare to stop little by little, with a deadline. To me, he is here, and there are matches to play, a qualification to get.

“Later, much later, we will talk. We will have to talk about everyone’s future in the national team after the qualifiers.”

Makelele notched up his 100th game in the Barclays Premiership against Liverpool last month and played his 143rd game in Chelsea colours in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Now in his fourth year in London, the French midfielder has set his sights on further glory with Chelsea rather than hanging up his boots.

Makelele insists Premiership success is vital if the club want to continue striving towards the ultimate goal of winning the Champions League.

Makelele added: “The Premier League is the one you must win. Over the season it is your work, you are fighting for it all the time and it gives you the opportunity to get back into the Champions League.”