Posted by BY EMMA HUESU on
Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba, has tipped his West African teammate, Mikel Obi, as a potential candidate for the World Best Footballer award if he continues to work hard.
Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba, has tipped his West African teammate, Mikel Obi, as a potential candidate for the World Best Footballer award if he continues to work hard.
'He is a great boy. He is still very young, but he's got a big heart. He will be one of the best players in the world if he keeps working hard.
He had a little problem initially, but he has settled pricely," Drogba said during an exclusive interview with SoccerStar at the refurbished Wembley Stadium.
The Ivorian captain has never scored against Manchester United since he joined the Premiership in 2005 and he said it was a relief to have broken the jinx.
'I have been waiting for two years for this moment. Manchester United are a great side with two strong defenders. But I am desperate to score against them. I knew it would come. I am happy that I scored against a great team like Man. U," Drogba enthused.
He continued: 'Yes, I just love Cup finals. I scored the winning goals in both the Carling Cup and the FA Cup. It is a great feeling. I got this great pass from Mikel.
'I could not shoot straight away, so I diverted United defenders' attention by finding Lampard. He slipped the ball back to me, I saw the goalkeeper and I just poked the ball in. It is not my special goals, but it is the most important I had scored this season."
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is shopping for three new players for the upcoming season as he faces the reality of losing the African quartet of Nigeria's midfieder, John Mikel Obi, fellow midfielder, Michael Essien of Ghana, Ivorian strikers - Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou-during the 2008 African Cup of Nations which will hold in Ghana from January 20 to February 10, 2008.
'We need a central defender as we don't have one, we need another midfielder, especially because we will lose Essien and Mikel for the African Cup and we need a striker because we will lose Didier and Salomon," Mourinho said.
'If we don't have so many injuries and if we can get three players to give a good balance to the team, I think we'll be in a good position. And we don't need to spend big money."
Mourinho said he had learned about his own personal resilence in a season hit by injuries on the pitch and widespread repots of face-off with club owner, Roman Abramovich, prompting speculation he could leave Chelsea.
'We lost the Premiership and we had many, many problems," said the Portuguese coach. But he added: ' I learned it's very difficult to kill me."