Makelele marvels at the way Chelsea players coped with Jose's exit

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Many people expected the club to struggle without their charismatic leader but his successor, Israeli coach Avram Grant, has led the club to just one defeat in their last 18 Premier League games, a Carling Cup final, the fifth round of the FA Cup and the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

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Now France international Makelele has expressed his delight at the manner in which the players dealt with the sudden change in management and proved their critics wrong.

"The club is always stronger than anything else," Makelele told L'Equipe. "It is stronger than the players and stronger than the coach. Even if the club appears to be wrong, they are right.

"Admittedly when Mourinho left the team was a little destabilised, but that was because he was such an important character. Everyone believed that we would collapse, but we got through that period because we are a group of hard workers and we trust in our ability."

Makelele had also announced his decision to quit international retirement in 2004, only to then return to the fold two years later but now he says he will leave the national team stage after this summer's Euro 2008 tournament.

"Will I stop representing France after the European Championships? Definitely," he said.

"It is the right time. Believe me, there is a very good generation of players coming up behind me."

Meanwhile striker Didier Drogba insists he is committed to Chelsea.

Drogba's future at Stamford Bridge has remained the subject of some intense speculation following the departure of Mourinho.

The striker made his desire to leave the club very public in a France Football magazine interview earlier this season.

But Drogba, on international duty with the Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup, now wants to remain at Stamford Bridge.

"I said what I had to say and I think that was understood," Drogba told Don Balon.

"The important thing is that my performances on the field have remained the same, or maybe even got better.

"What counts is giving 100% in a Chelsea shirt. Today, working in a good atmosphere with a common goal is fantastic.

"Winning the UEFA Champions League and Premier League - these are the types of challenges that I love and I am happy."