Didier Drogba is adamant he and Chelsea team-mate John Terry will be fit for next week's Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow - but refused to confirm he will be at the club next season.


Both players sustained injuries in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Bolton in the Barclays Premier League, Drogba hurting his knee and Terry dislocating his elbow.


But the Ivory Coast striker is sure they will be fit to face United in the Russian capital next Wednesday as the Blues go in search of their first Champions League crown.

"I took a blow to my knee that was operated on (back in December), and it hurt at the time," he told French daily L'Equipe.

"I put ice on it immediately. But there is nothing serious. I will be at training this week."

On the fitness of Chelsea captain Terry, who was taken to hospital after colliding with his own goalkeeper, Petr Cech, Drogba added: "I have spoken to him - he will play in Moscow.

"No-one wants to miss this gigantic match, the match of our careers. That's the case for me anyway."

Chelsea lost out to United at the weekend in the race for the Premier League title as Sir Alex Ferguson's men secured the defence of their crown with a 2-0 win at Wigan.


United will head to Moscow looking to complete the double, but Drogba said: "This Champions League match is different.


"It will play itself out over 90 or 120 minutes, like in the FA Cup final last year (which Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Drogba's goal in the second half of extra time).


"We know that we can beat United, we proved it again in the league a fortnight ago.


"But they deserved their title and were rewarded for their consistency. We made too many mistakes."


There has been plenty of speculation about Drogba's future at Chelsea - he was recently linked with a move to Inter Milan - but he insists the Champions League final is the only thing dominating his thoughts.


"At the moment, the only thing I have in my mind is the final in Moscow," he said.


"What will happen in June or July? I still don't know anything."


Drogba admitted earlier this season he found it hard leaving Marseille for Chelsea in July 2004, and was reported as saying he wanted to leave the London club.


He maintains his relationship with supporters in England has improved but admits he has found it difficult to settle.


"I didn't want to leave Marseille," he added.


"I had trouble getting used to Chelsea and I wanted to leave at the end of every season. Not because people were not treating me well, rather because of personal reasons.


"I have started everything again from zero in England. I had to replace a great striker in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was a favourite at the club.


"It wasn't easy but my relationship with the English supporters has evolved.


"There was at first a dissension between us but I then understood what they expected of me. Now the rapport I have with them is like what I had with the fans at Marseille."



Sporting Life / Eurosport

A relief to get to the end of this game with all three points intact. Chelsea never quite looked the real deal today and Blackburn, like Boro in midweek put up a spirited performance. But we'll gladly take the three points which keeps us on the heels of Man Utd.


It was good to see Petr Cech back in goal and he certainly added extra security at the back with his 6ft 5in frame dominating the goal area and he also made a crucial save from Benny McCarthy at a time when we were holding on to a slender lead. Didier Drogba also caused the Blackburn defence trouble after he came on (having been rested from the original line up due to a niggling injury picked up at Middlesbro). His physical style of play and strength ruffled the home side defenders and his goal in the 81st minute was a cracker, muscling himself past Ooijer before striking a sweet shot into the roof of the net past Friedel.


Having said that neither team grabbed control of the game in the first half - but Chelsea created slightly the better of the chances without really looking like scoring. Early in the second half, the penalty awarded for holding on John Terry (more like a rugby tackle) was only just converted by Lampard. Blackburn, like Middlesboro before them, came back more into the game and had Chelsea on the back footing. Petr Cech, as stated before, was a tower of strength for the defence and the introduction of Drogba gave Chelsea a more menacing look up front.

Anyway to win Championships you need to win games even when you are not at your best and Chelsea managed that. There were wholesale changes to the side with Cech, Kahlid the Cannibal, Ballack and Kalou all starting after the disappointment at Boro. There is now the break for the Euro Championship qualifiers before we play another bogey team, Charlton, at Home on Sept 9.

The Transfer window closes on Thursday and the questions still surround Ashley Cole and William Gallas. Wayne Bridge has been on fire for Chelsea so far in the season and Chelsea miss Gallas' composure in and around the box. Ashley Cole is no doubt a great player but it will be no big loss if we do not get him - although Peter Kenyon (Chelsea CEO) has stated that he expects the deal to go through at the end of this week.

You could not write a better script - John Terry sets an example by scoring the first goal for England in their drubbing of European Champions Greece.
England looked so much better than in the World Cup and were helped by McLaren's decision to leave out Beckham from the squad. It freed up Gerrard and Lampard who finally played well together.


It is of note that all four goals were scored by Chelsea and Liverpool players and it would seem that these two teams who have enjoyed such a rivalry together over the past 24 months with 11 games played and set to play each other again on Sept. 16 are likely to be the main contenders for the title this year. Man Utd have finally strengthened their midfield and may well pose a threat and Arsenal finished the season strongly - but with Ashley Cole still unsettled and Senderos still injured they'lll be a bit shaky at the back - expect some good scorelines!!

CANNON FODDER - unfortunately for the visiting Man City team they are going to be cannon fodder for Chelsea this weekend. Stuart Pearce had to actually play in one of their pre-season friendlies as they have such a small squad of fit players, and without the heroics of David James - Shevchenko is going to have a dream debut for Chelsea. 4-0 my prediction with a hat-trick for the Ukranian striker.


It is likely to be a very exciting title race this year - but if Chelsea have won the title by mid September again this year I will not be complaining.

Watching England play is definitely not good for the nerves and it is quite understanding why we England supporters are all driven to drink too much


Another good day for Chelsea and England with Chelsea players picking up both FIFA man of the match awards - John Terry for England and Maniche for Portugal.


England 1 - 0 Ecuador
John Terry almost cost England dearly with his header which almost gave up a goal to Ecuador - but he made amends with good tackles, leadership and took on the mantle of Captain after Beckham left the field for the last 10 minutes.

England were woeful in the first half, but picked things up in the second and Lampard should have scored a couple of goals - once (and if) Frank & England start firing they are going to be capable of beating the better sides which they are going to meet in the rest of the World Cup.
England did a good job of stifling the Ecuador midfield and attack and while it was not pretty it was effective.


Portugal 1 - 0 Holland

Maniche scored a well taken effort taking a pass in the area jinking past the defender and coolly slotting home.
Carvahlo had a great game martialling the depleted Portugese defence and was one of the few players on the pitch not to get a yellow card. Robben looked lively for the Dutch but for some strange reason Van Basten dropped Van Nistelroy and it probably cost them the game.


Portugal looked very dangerous even playing with less players than Holland for large stretches of the game until the referee evened things up with his second and fourth red cards.

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Unfortunately we are now halfway through the World Cup in terms of games played with 32 of 64 games done & dusted. The next 8 days will see another 24 games and then we will all suffer withdrawal symptoms with only 8 games to be played over the last 12 days and 6 of those days with no games at all!!! What the hell are we supposed to do??


Chelsea's players continue to excel at the World Cup with both Crespo and Shevchenko getting on the score sheet since our last post and Chelsea share top spot on World Cup scorers with 5 goals (tied with Arsenal and Athletico Madrid).

Juventus remain the only big club side in Europe without a goal to their credit so far.


John Terry saved English blushes with an amazing goal-line clearance against Trinidad and Petr Cech kept the score reasonable against Ghana who could have scored a hatful.

Chelsea now have five official FIFA Player of the game awards as Robben picked up his second accolade for the Dutch against the Ivory Coast and Essien picked up his award for his midfield general performance in Ghana's 2-0 defeat of the #2 ranked Czech Republic.


58 of the 75 goals scored so far have been scored by players who make their living in Europe.


The goal scoring charts now look as follows:

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