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'Tottenham must be wary of phenomenal Chelsea striker Didier Drogba' - Spurs coach Les Ferdinand
Former iconic forward believes the Ivorian has been invigorated by the fight to remain main man at Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Fernando Torres in January
22 Dec 2011 12:00:00
Barclays
EXCLUSIVE
By Rob Stewart
Tottenham coach Les Ferdinand has warned Spurs to be ready for the immense threat posed by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the high-flying Premier League clubs’ White Hart Lane showdown.
Ahead of the Thursday night clash, Ferdinand, who coaches the Spurs strikers, expressed his admiration for the Ivory Coast international and believes that he has been invigorated by the arrival of £50 million record signing Fernando Torres.
“I am a big fan of Didier Drogba and in my opinion over the last few years he has been the Premier League’s outstanding centre-forward,” Ferdinand told Goal.com.
“I think that the arrival of Fernando Torres has really got him going again a little bit because for a long time he had been the main man and the key player for Chelsea.
“When Torres came in it looked as though he would be the future and I am sure that in time to come that he will indeed be the future.
“But for now I still think that Drogba has plenty to offer and they were putting him out to pasture a little bit before his time. I’m sure he is enjoying proving people wrong because he really seems to have the bite between his teeth at the moment.”
The 33-year-old Drogba may have only scored five goals this season but Ferdinand, who played as a striker for Tottenham and Newcastle United as well as England, believes his overall game makes him dangerous to Tottenham.
“Didier scores goals but he brings his team-mates into the game because of his strength and his phenomenal ability on the ball,” he added.
“He started the season out of the side after suffering with a bit of malaria and that limited his opportunities to play but now he is back in the side he is again looking like the real deal again – the Didier Drogba that we have been used to seeing since he came to Chelsea from Marseille.
“I’m sure that Spurs fans will be desperate for Ledley King to play against Chelsea not only because it’s a big game but because he is so well equipped to face Drogba.
"He is ultra calm and he reads the game so well that the defence looks stronger when he is in the middle of the back four.”
Follow Rob Stewart on
By Rob Stewart
Tottenham coach Les Ferdinand has warned Spurs to be ready for the immense threat posed by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the high-flying Premier League clubs’ White Hart Lane showdown.
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Ahead of the Thursday night clash, Ferdinand, who coaches the Spurs strikers, expressed his admiration for the Ivory Coast international and believes that he has been invigorated by the arrival of £50 million record signing Fernando Torres.
“I am a big fan of Didier Drogba and in my opinion over the last few years he has been the Premier League’s outstanding centre-forward,” Ferdinand told Goal.com.
“I think that the arrival of Fernando Torres has really got him going again a little bit because for a long time he had been the main man and the key player for Chelsea.
“When Torres came in it looked as though he would be the future and I am sure that in time to come that he will indeed be the future.
“But for now I still think that Drogba has plenty to offer and they were putting him out to pasture a little bit before his time. I’m sure he is enjoying proving people wrong because he really seems to have the bite between his teeth at the moment.”
The 33-year-old Drogba may have only scored five goals this season but Ferdinand, who played as a striker for Tottenham and Newcastle United as well as England, believes his overall game makes him dangerous to Tottenham.
“Didier scores goals but he brings his team-mates into the game because of his strength and his phenomenal ability on the ball,” he added.
“He started the season out of the side after suffering with a bit of malaria and that limited his opportunities to play but now he is back in the side he is again looking like the real deal again – the Didier Drogba that we have been used to seeing since he came to Chelsea from Marseille.
“I’m sure that Spurs fans will be desperate for Ledley King to play against Chelsea not only because it’s a big game but because he is so well equipped to face Drogba.
"He is ultra calm and he reads the game so well that the defence looks stronger when he is in the middle of the back four.”
Follow Rob Stewart on
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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