Following our exit from the Champions League on Tuesday, Didier Drogba knows we have to improve if we want to win the domestic league title.
The Ivorian was obviously disappointed by the midweek result, and felt there could have been at least one penalty awarded over the two ties, but he's now concentrating on the competitions we can still compete in. That means wins over Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth in the next week are a must if we are to maintain our challenge for the Barclays Premier League.
'We are disappointed but we have to come back stronger,' insists the Chelsea number 11.
'The League is going to be a big battle, we have one game more to play [than our title rivals] and we have to go to Portsmouth,' he adds, looking ahead to the next midweek clash.
'So, we have to go there and do everything we can to be top of the League again.'
But with another Champions League campaign ending with another ban for Drogba, does the Ivorian think the Blues are unlucky in Europe's elite competition?
'At the end of the day Inter were a better team,' he reports. 'We couldn't play our game and they were stronger than us. But it is difficult to stop at this stage of the competition and be out.
'In the two games we could have won at least one penalty, but maybe the referee didn't see them or feel like giving any penalties.
'It is tough because every season you start the Champions League you have a lot of belief and then to go out like this, especially at home, it's just very difficult.'
Drogba's red card in the 86th minute means he'll miss the start of next season's European campaign.
It'll be the third season in a row this has happened following a red card in the Moscow final and further disciplinary action after our final game of the competition against Barcelona last year. Aware of the repercussions after last season's exit, Drogba accepted his sending off on Tuesday with grace, despite disagreeing with the decision.
'The referee was a bit harsh with this red card,' he says. 'I stepped on his tendon but it was not intentional, I was more focused on the ball coming from the cross.
'But it is hard and I didn't really want to discuss it at the time, I just went straight into the changing room.'
Now in terms of Champions League success, Chelsea will have to wait for the 2010/11 season.
'All the players here are really happy and we want to stay, we want to contribute to this adventure. It will mean a lot to win it next season together because we have been trying so hard for such a long time. I hope next season will be different for us in the Champions League.'
The Ivorian was obviously disappointed by the midweek result, and felt there could have been at least one penalty awarded over the two ties, but he's now concentrating on the competitions we can still compete in. That means wins over Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth in the next week are a must if we are to maintain our challenge for the Barclays Premier League.
'We are disappointed but we have to come back stronger,' insists the Chelsea number 11.
'The League is going to be a big battle, we have one game more to play [than our title rivals] and we have to go to Portsmouth,' he adds, looking ahead to the next midweek clash.
'So, we have to go there and do everything we can to be top of the League again.'
But with another Champions League campaign ending with another ban for Drogba, does the Ivorian think the Blues are unlucky in Europe's elite competition?
'At the end of the day Inter were a better team,' he reports. 'We couldn't play our game and they were stronger than us. But it is difficult to stop at this stage of the competition and be out.
'In the two games we could have won at least one penalty, but maybe the referee didn't see them or feel like giving any penalties.
'It is tough because every season you start the Champions League you have a lot of belief and then to go out like this, especially at home, it's just very difficult.'
Drogba's red card in the 86th minute means he'll miss the start of next season's European campaign.
It'll be the third season in a row this has happened following a red card in the Moscow final and further disciplinary action after our final game of the competition against Barcelona last year. Aware of the repercussions after last season's exit, Drogba accepted his sending off on Tuesday with grace, despite disagreeing with the decision.
'The referee was a bit harsh with this red card,' he says. 'I stepped on his tendon but it was not intentional, I was more focused on the ball coming from the cross.
'But it is hard and I didn't really want to discuss it at the time, I just went straight into the changing room.'
Now in terms of Champions League success, Chelsea will have to wait for the 2010/11 season.
'All the players here are really happy and we want to stay, we want to contribute to this adventure. It will mean a lot to win it next season together because we have been trying so hard for such a long time. I hope next season will be different for us in the Champions League.'
No comments:
Post a Comment