Malouda can be a jewel in Jose’s crown

With Arjen Robben almost certainly on his way to Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho appears to have found the ideal replacement in the France winger.

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Fast and tricky, the yellow-booted Malouda was involved in most of Chelsea's bright moments in an otherwise uninspired display — and even managed to get himself booked in one of the game's two unsavoury moments.

Malouda, a £13.5 million signing from Lyon, signalled his threat in the opening minutes as he burst clear of the Rangers defence to set up Steve Sidwell. But the former Reading midfielder, with the opportunity to score his first goal since moving to the double domestic Cup winners, dragged his shot wide from 20 yards.

Malouda's elusive running led to the first flare-up of an afternoon that was mostly as tame as any pre-season friendly. As he burst away from Barry Ferguson, the Rangers captain scythed him down, incurring a stern lecture from referee Stuart Dougal and an angry reaction from Didier Drogba.

When Malouda took revenge with a crude lunge at Ferguson moments later, he became the first booking of the afternoon. Two further impressive contributions from Malouda, a cross which Drogba headed wide and a fizzing 25-yard shot which went inches wide, came before Mourinho took him off at halftime, having done enough to suggest that he will play an important role in Chelsea's bid to regain the Premiership title.

With Mourinho making seven changes in the second half, Rangers took advantage to send their fans home happy with two goals in the last seven minutes.

From Chris Burke's surging run down the right, Nacho Novo collected the pass before drilling a 20-yarder in off a post, with substitute goalkeeper Henrique Hilario helpless.

Four minutes later, Filip Sebo added a second with a curling shot into the far corner which appeared to catch Hilario out of position. Earlier, John Terry was yellow-carded when he brought down Sebo, who was clean through.Hemight have been sent off in a League game,proving that even a salary of £135,000 a week is no guarantee against mistakes.

Although the defeat may cause diehard Chelsea fans cause for concern, Mourinho will have been satisfied with a good work-out two weeks before the season and the chance to run the rule over his new signings.

Sidwell was busy and competitive in midfield, defender Tal Ben Haim showed his versatility by playing in three different positions over the course of the match,and Peruvian centre forward Claudio Pizarro,at 6ft 1in,looked more like a typical old-fashioned English striker than someone blessed with Latin American skills. But from his one good chance midway through the second half, Pizarro wastefully headed wide,although a linesman's flag had ruled him offside.

The return of Ashley Cole after injury was another bonus for Mourinho. The England leftback came on for Glen Johnson in the 63rd minute and although short of match fitness, he showed he had lost none of his defensive nous with a goalsaving tackle to deny Novo after a midfield misunderstanding between Sidwell and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Mourinho will have gained some useful pointers as he establishes his strongest side for battles ahead. In Malouda, he appears to have found a gem.