Drogba says Chelsea have everything to win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-01 09:39

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says the London club, in contention to complete an unprecedented quadruple, have everything to win at least one title this season.

The Blues are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, they meet Liverpool in the League Cup final on February 27, take on Barcelona in the knockout stage of the Champions League and entertain Newcastle in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, shown in a file photo, says the London club, in contention to complete an unprecedented quadruple, have everything to win at least one title this season. London, January 22, 2005. [Reuters]

"This season we really have the team to go very far in every competition," Drogba said in an interview to be published by France Football magazine on Tuesday.

Asked if Chelsea can become regular winners like Manchester United were during the 1990s, Drogba said: "It could be possible even if there is still a long way to go.

"We are here to win one title at least, and may be more than one. I don't care how many goals I score or how many matches I play but I want to know what the feeling of winning a title is like," the Ivory Coast international said.

"Our lead over Arsenal (10 points) and Manchester United (11) is quite big and we are going to face Barcelona in the Champions League... Some say it's a tough draw for us but it's certainly a tough one for them too."

The Blues have won the English league title only once in their history, exactly 50 years ago.

TRIBUTE TO MOURINHO

Drogba said Chelsea had been transformed by coach Jose Mourinho, who arrived in London after steering Porto to victory in the Champions League last May.

"He is one of the best in the world and he is really impressive," Drogba said. "He has his own ideas about strategy but he never lets himself get trapped into it.

"He is capable of changing tactics during the match if it's needed. He is able to anticipate and guess what the scenario of the last five minutes of a game is going to be.

"He works a lot with the video. When we played a fourth division side (Scunthorpe United) in a Cup match, he bought a video of our rivals. We watched it and knew everything we had to about them."

Drogba also praised the work of former French international midfielder Claude Makelele who joined Chelsea from Real Madrid last year.

"He is the cornerstone of the team," Drogba said. "Without him, Chelsea would not be the same team.

"When you watch him play you don't think of him as being outstanding. But everything he does is clear, accurate and smart."

Asked to compare the Premier League and Ligue 1, Drogba said that even triple French champions Olympique Lyon would not be able to compete for a European berth in England.

"The leading team in the French championship would finish in the middle of the table here," he said. "Lyon can beat anyone on their day but they wouldn't stand (the pace) the whole season."

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