London - Didier Drogba’s knack for scoring goals at Wembley and against Portsmouth are two of the reasons why Chelsea is an overwhelming favorite to finish the season with its first-ever league and FA Cup double.
After clinching the Engliaag Premier League title with an emphatic 8-0 victory over Wigan last weekend, when Drogba scored three times to earn the golden boot as the competition’s top scorer, Chelsea has all the ingredients to make Saturday’s Cup final against Portsmouth a one-sided affair.
Relegated from the Premier League as a last-place finisher and deep in financial trouble, Portsmouth is hoping to follow up its surprise semifinal victory over Tottenham with an even bigger shock at Wembley.
But Chelsea has the Drogba factor and the 32-year-old Ivory Coast striker is hungry to add to his five goals at the home of English football and six in games against Portsmouth.
“That pitch brings me a lot of luck,” Drogba said on Thursday. “It is something we really want to achieve, it won’t be easy because Portsmouth have been focused and it will be a happy ending for them after their season, but this next week is so important for us.”
Drogba has been at Chelsea for six seasons, helping the team win three league titles as well as two FA Cups and two League Cups.
“This is the best season of my career,” he said. “My third season here I scored 33 goals, and 20 goals in the league, this one I scored 29 in the league.”
With Drogba’s scoring success and Chelsea’s emphatic last game triumph to capture the league title, it all points to an easy victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s team as the former AC Milan coach chases the double triumph in his first season in English football.
There was a scare when John Terry left Wednesday’s training session with his right foot in a protective boot, prompting fears he had broken a bone. But he said that was just a precaution and the Chelsea captain was back in training on Thursday.
Portsmouth now has former Chelsea manager Avram Grant in charge and, although the Israeli was unable to keep the team in the Premier League, he has the chance to beat the club he guided to the Champions League final in 2008.
“Avram’s been great since he’s been here,” Portsmouth midfielder Hayden Mullins said.
“He’s a brilliant coach and a good motivator. Hopefully he can come up with a trick that will stifle Chelsea.”
Mullins said Portsmouth could use its underdog status to pull off the latest Cup final surprise in the long history of the competition, after beating Tottenham 2-0 in the semifinals.
“There’s no pressure on us. The pressure’s on Chelsea,” he said. “The longer we keep them quiet, the more the pressure mounts.”
Associated Press
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com
After clinching the Engliaag Premier League title with an emphatic 8-0 victory over Wigan last weekend, when Drogba scored three times to earn the golden boot as the competition’s top scorer, Chelsea has all the ingredients to make Saturday’s Cup final against Portsmouth a one-sided affair.
Relegated from the Premier League as a last-place finisher and deep in financial trouble, Portsmouth is hoping to follow up its surprise semifinal victory over Tottenham with an even bigger shock at Wembley.
But Chelsea has the Drogba factor and the 32-year-old Ivory Coast striker is hungry to add to his five goals at the home of English football and six in games against Portsmouth.
“That pitch brings me a lot of luck,” Drogba said on Thursday. “It is something we really want to achieve, it won’t be easy because Portsmouth have been focused and it will be a happy ending for them after their season, but this next week is so important for us.”
Drogba has been at Chelsea for six seasons, helping the team win three league titles as well as two FA Cups and two League Cups.
“This is the best season of my career,” he said. “My third season here I scored 33 goals, and 20 goals in the league, this one I scored 29 in the league.”
With Drogba’s scoring success and Chelsea’s emphatic last game triumph to capture the league title, it all points to an easy victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s team as the former AC Milan coach chases the double triumph in his first season in English football.
There was a scare when John Terry left Wednesday’s training session with his right foot in a protective boot, prompting fears he had broken a bone. But he said that was just a precaution and the Chelsea captain was back in training on Thursday.
Portsmouth now has former Chelsea manager Avram Grant in charge and, although the Israeli was unable to keep the team in the Premier League, he has the chance to beat the club he guided to the Champions League final in 2008.
“Avram’s been great since he’s been here,” Portsmouth midfielder Hayden Mullins said.
“He’s a brilliant coach and a good motivator. Hopefully he can come up with a trick that will stifle Chelsea.”
Mullins said Portsmouth could use its underdog status to pull off the latest Cup final surprise in the long history of the competition, after beating Tottenham 2-0 in the semifinals.
“There’s no pressure on us. The pressure’s on Chelsea,” he said. “The longer we keep them quiet, the more the pressure mounts.”
Associated Press
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com