Source: Team_Talk
Drogba taking nothing for Grant-ed
Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba insists a League and FA Cup double is far from a formality because of Portsmouth boss Avram Grant.[LNB] Grant steered Chelsea to the final of the Champions League in 2008 after replacing axed Jose Mourinho as caretaker manager in September 2007.[LNB]The Chelsea squad still has immense respect for the job Grant did during his time in the hot-seat at Stamford Bridge and that's why they know there is no room for complacency in the FA Cup final at Wembley today.[LNB]"The challenge is very exciting because we have never done the double and this is the chance to make history for the club," said Drogba.[LNB]"But we know how motivated they will be and we know Avram very well. He knows how to motivate and get the best out of players.[LNB]"It's going to be a difficult final and we have to prepare well. The job he's done wasn't easy and I think if they hadn't had the points taken off they would still be in the Premier League and to get to the final is a great achievement.[LNB]"There is still pressure on their shoulders because they want to win. It is the last chance for them to make a big impact."[LNB]Meanwhile, midfielder Frank Lampard insists Chelsea must be ruthless to ensure they win the double.[LNB]Victory over Pompey would see Chelsea become only the seventh side in the history of the game to achieve the feat.[LNB]Chelsea were crowned champions of the Barclays Premier League last Sunday and it could get even better for coach Carlo Ancelotti and his side if they can overcome a Portsmouth side that has defied the odds to reach the final.[LNB]Pompey, close to going out of business because of huge debts, went into administration and now face life in the Championship next season after their relegation.[LNB]But a surprise win over Tottenham in the semi-finals has given former Chelsea coach Grant the chance to pull off one of the biggest cup final shocks in history.[LNB]The scenario is not lost on the focused mind of Lampard, who knows that any complacency could wreck their double dream and send Chelsea's England contingent off to the World Cup in a deeply depressed mood.[LNB]"We don't want it to be a fairytale that goes all the way for Portsmouth, we have to be ruthless how we approach the game," said Lampard.[LNB]"To win the league was a huge thing for us last week we got that job done but we knew the season wasn't over.[LNB]"We saw Portsmouth against Tottenham in the semi-final and we've seen them have a very spirited end to the season, even with the difficult circumstances.[LNB]"What better way to go to the World Cup than having done the Double - its very exciting for all the players here who are going to the World Cup for regardless of their country.[LNB]"But I would hate to go there having missed out on the double. Mentally if I went away and we'd lost that would be the freshest thing in the mind and it would be horrible.[LNB]"We are determined to finish the job and it wont be as easy as some people have made out. I also have a lot of sympathy with Portsmouth.[LNB]"I think they've handled themselves very well, particularly Avram Grant, who we know really well and have a lot of respect for."[LNB]
