Chelsea hit-man Didier Drogba to remain at Stamford Bridge, looks forward to competition
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Didier-Drogba-c11044, the 33-year-old Chelsea striker, revealed he would be staying with the Blues for the upcoming season. The Ivory Coast international was linked with a Stamford Bridge exit after the highly unsuccessful last season. However, the appointment
of Andre Villas-Boas as the new Chelsea manager has guaranteed his stay with the London side.
Drogba revealed he was currently in the process of having talks with the club management over a possible new contract, which could keep him at the club until the end of his career. Even if that was not the case, the Ivorian revealed he would most definitely
be staying with the Blues for the upcoming campaign.
Drogba said while speaking to reporters:
“We've started talking. Everybody knows what I feel about Chelsea and what I want.
I will definitely be here next season. I said a few years ago I will be here until the end of my contract and I am.”
Drogba said he did not want a move away, despite being linked to various sides, including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray. He insisted he was preparing for next season and intended to give his best on the field to maintain his spot
as the first choice striker under the young Portuguese manager.
With the arrival of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 in the January transfer window for a record breaking fee of £50 million, Drogba had to fight for his place in the starting line-up in the second season under Carlo Ancelotti. Since Torres rarely found the
back of the net, Drogba automatically won that contest but is well aware it will not be a two-horse race in the upcoming season.
Along with Torres, Drogba faces competition from the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Sturridge-c10076 and any other striker Villas-Boas signs in the summer transfer window. While Malouda is mostly a winger, the Frenchman finished as the top goal-scorer
for the Blues, which makes him competition for Drogba.
Sturridge on the other hand returns after a loan spell with Bolton Wanderers, scoring 8 goals in 12 appearances. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 under-21 international has managed to impress fans and critics alike over the latter part of last season and is now looking for his
chance with the Chelsea first team. This only means more competition for the Chelsea hit-man.
However, Drogba insisted he was not concerned with the thought of all the competition he was set to face in the upcoming season. In fact, the Ivory Coast skipper revealed he was looking forward to fighting for his place in the first team line up and proving
that he still had it in him to be the first choice striker despite being one of the oldest players at the club.
Drogba said:
“Yes, I think we are (contending for one place).
That's the manager's choice, but it's been like this for me for all my years at this club.”
He continued:
“I'm 33, I'm the oldest player and, even if that feels strange, I'm not worried.
If I deserve to play then I will play. If I'm not good then I won't. It's good for the team to have some competition.”
Drogba signed for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in the summer of 2004 from Ligue 1 side Marseille for a fee of £24 million and since then has gone on to become one of the Blues most successful strikers in the history of the club. In his seven seasons at the club, Drogba has made
a total of 306 appearances in all competitions and has scored an impressive 144 goals.
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