Source: Telegraph
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba claims six teams can win Premier League
Drogba and Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign on Saturday at home to Hull in the first game of the new season.
And the Ivory Coast striker predicts yet another testing season in England's top flight.
"Since I arrived in England, I have never known an easy season. The championship is more difficult each year and the one which is coming up will without doubt be the most difficult.
"Now there are more teams capable of fighting for the title," he told L'Equipe.
Chelsea's title challenge will be directed by new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, the fifth manager in two years at Stamford Bridge.
And Drogba believes Ancelotti not only has to fight off Chelsea's regular Big Four opponents - Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool - but that clubs such as Aston Villa and Tottenham also stand a chance of winning.
"Even if I think they will need a bit more time before beating the teams in the 'Big Four', you must count on them this season, without forgetting Aston Villa and Tottenham.
"From this year, people are no longer talking about a 'Big Four' but a 'Big Five' or 'Big Six'!"
But Drogba maintained that the team to beat are Manchester United, who Chelsea saw off 4-1 on penalties after the Community Shield finished a 2-2 draw.
Despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo, Drogba believes Manchester United's title-winning pedigree means they rightly deserve the tag of Premier League favourites.
"They have won the title for the last three years and they deserve it," Drogba said.
"But now that has to stop! And we are going to give our all to do that. They are clearly the team to beat. We showed in the second half of the Community Shield that we are capable of it," he added.
