Didier Drogba Can Damage Barcelona, Claims Chelsea's Michael Ballack
The German believes the Ivorian can slay the visiting Catalans.
May 5, 2009 12:27:40 PM
Related Links
Teams
Didier Drogba, despite missing a glorious chance to grab a crucial away goal against Barcelona in Camp Nou last week, has been in unforgiving form under interim manager Guus Hiddink, and his understanding with Nicolas Anelka against Fulham was almost telepathic.
German midfielder Michael Ballack expects Drogba to rise once again and see off an under-strength Barca in the concluding leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening at Stamford Bridge. The Catalan outfit are missing Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez.
Ballack explained to the Mirror, "Didier sometimes still surprises even me with what he can do on the pitch. I've played with and also against a lot of players in Europe but I've not seen many, especially strikers, who can compare.
"In England you have a lot of physically strong strikers but not who also have the combination of technique, the success, the goal scoring, the determination to score and effectiveness that Didi has.
"That's why he plays for Chelsea! He's in a good shape. Of course we need a fantastic Didi, like we had against Liverpool at home and in a few other games.
"We don't know what they will do," he added. "That's their problem, not ours. We have had a few problems in the past with injuries and had to deal with them. This is a problem they have.
"So we have to take things as they come, whatever they do. They might have to put Eric Abidal in the middle. But even if they had Rafael Marquez or Carles Puyol, Didi is strong enough to challenge them."
He continued, "Whenever there has been a big game he's been there and we think he will be against Barca as well."
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
- England v Italy: Five Great English Victories Over Italian Teams
- Arsene Wenger Adamant Cesc Fabregas Will Stay At Arsenal Despite Spanish Claims Of 'Verbal Agreement' With Barcelona
- Manchester City Set Sights On Fiorentina Defender Alessandro Gamberini - Report
- Egyptian National Team Head Coach Hassan Shehata Drops Nigeria Interest
- Inland Revenue Reject Cash Offer From Portsmouth - Report
- Chelsea Targeting £30m Summer Swoop For Barcelona Defender Dani Alves - Report
- Sahara Head Subrata Roy Steps Up Bid To Take Over Liverpool - Report
- Peter Hill-Wood Hints At One-Year Deal For Arsenal Defender William Gallas
- Arsenal v Liverpool Special: Despite Their Differences, Rafa Benitez & Arsene Wenger Have Become Kindred Spirits
- Milan Jovanovic Over The Moon With Liverpool Move
- Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
- Euro 2012 Draw: Italy Meet Serbia, Germany-Turkey & Portugal-Denmark
- Numbers Game: Seventeen Reasons Manchester United Don't Miss Cristiano Ronaldo, But One Reason Why They Might
- Arsenal Comment: Arsene Wenger’s Failure To Buy In January Has Cost Arsenal The Title
- Ivory Coast Fans Angry At Didier Drogba’s Chelsea Brace Against Arsenal
- Player Ratings: Inter 3-0 Cagliari
- Barcelona Reach Verbal Agreement With Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas - Report
- Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand And Nemanja Vidic In Clinic Bid To Save Careers - Report
- Top 10 Things To Expect From AC Milan-Manchester United & Inter-Chelsea
- CL Debate: The Tide Has Turned - Inter & Manchester United Are Now Favourites Against Chelsea & Milan
- I'm Playing The Best Football Of My Career - Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney
- Arsenal Comment: Arsene Wenger’s Failure To Buy In January Has Cost Arsenal The Title
364 - Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: Didier Drogba Double Dispatches Demoralised Arsenal
246 - Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Likes To Find Excuses - Chelsea Midfielder Michael Ballack
174 - Euro 2012 Draw: Italy Meet Serbia, Germany-Turkey & Portugal-Denmark
173 - Top 10 Things To Expect From AC Milan-Manchester United & Inter-Chelsea
126 - Barcelona Reach Verbal Agreement With Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas - Report
126