Drogba gives Scolari selection dilemma
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Your support makes all the difference.Didier Drogba is ready to make up for lost time in the Barclays Premier League, according to Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Drogba's season has been ruined by injuries and suspension but he is ready to be unleashed on the rest of the top flight in order to get Chelsea's title dreams back on track.
Scolari's side face Everton at Goodison Park tonight with increasing speculation that Drogba and top scorer Nicolas Anelka will be named in the starting line-up.
However, the Brazilian coach admitted the training-ground work with the pair has not been a 100 per cent success and may well choose to wait until their home game against West Brom before tinkering with his 4-3-3 system.
"Drogba is ready to start now," said Scolari. "Maybe he will start tonight or maybe later. But he is ready and completely fit.
"We have worked in training with Anelka and Drogba and sometimes it has been good and sometimes not so good.
"It has been 50-50, but I know the spirit of the group is better than before and it has evolved more now. This week has been very good for us.
"We discussed how to get past a team that plays with two central defenders and then two players more in front of them.
"We looked at what we could do when we have the ball. The players trained very well this week. They know more now and have more confidence if I change the system at some point in a game.
"Some players are ready completely to change their position if I ask them."
Chelsea have a 100% away record in the Premier League and hope to continue that against an Everton side that has struggled to win on home soil.
The Londoners' home form as not been sparkling with only 13 points from a possible 27. The Blues have lost to Liverpool and Arsenal and drawn with Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham and Manchester United, but Scolari does not believe the problem is a mental one.
"I don't think it is a problem in their heads because the other teams came to Stamford Bridge and played well," said Scolari.
"I say to my players that we are not good in Stamford Bridge but we are good away from home."
Chelsea midfielder Deco knows their home form needs to improve but admits it has become easier on their travels because opponents are not so cautious.
"It is certainly easier for us away at the moment as other teams try to play when they are at home," said Deco.
"This allows us to have more space. At Stamford Bridge teams always come and try to close us down which can make it difficult for us. But we are always trying to play better."
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