Source: Team_Talk
Drogba won't win Ballon d'Or - Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti does not believe Didier Drogba has a chance of winning a Ballon d'Or until he helps Chelsea to a Champions League final.[LNB] Drogba, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the competition, has excelled at Stamford Bridge ever since his £24million transfer from Marseille in 2004.[LNB]The Ivory Coast striker has regularly performed well in Europe's top club competition and has also topped the Premier League scoring charts on two occasions to help fire the Blues to three titles during his time at the club.[LNB]However, his efforts in front of goal are yet to be recognised by his European counterparts.[LNB]Drogba was this week among the nominees for the Ballon d'Or for the sixth consecutive year, but he is yet to get anywhere near the top prize.[LNB]Ancelotti, who twice won the Champions League with AC Milan, reckons that Drogba will not win the prize this year as Chelsea failed to make the final last term after crashing out in the second round to winners Inter Milan.[LNB]"Whoever wins the Ballon D'Or depends on the team the player plays for," Ancelotti said. "If you are not in the final of the Champions League it is very difficult to win it.[LNB]"Drogba won't win it this season. If we win the Champions League this season we'll have players able to win it. This time it will go to an Inter player."[LNB]Drogba and his team-mates will take one more step towards Champions League victory with a win over Spartak Moscow at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.[LNB]Ancelotti's men will guarantee top spot in Group F with victory over a Russian side they impressively swept aside 2-0 at the Luzhniki Stadium two weeks ago.[LNB]The build-up to next week's clash has been overshadowed by ugly scenes which followed Spartak's win over rivals Zenit St Petersburg in midweek.[LNB]More than 100 fans were detained after chairs were thrown onto the pitch and Spartak manager Valery Karpin had to be restrained after clashing with a Zenit player.[LNB]Defeat could see Spartak drop to third in the group and they will be boosted by the news that Frank Lampard will be out for the Blues as he continues his long rehabilitation from hernia surgery.[LNB]The return of Jose Bosingwa and Alex means that Ancelotti has more options in defence though, much to the frustration of Branislav Ivanovic, who has performed admirably at centre-half and right-back during the pair's absence.[LNB]Ancelotti admits he may give the Serbian defender, who is thought to be close to agreeing a contract extension at the club, a start on Wednesday evening.[LNB]He said: "Ivanovic is a fantastic player. We have a lot of games. Ivanovic is flexible. He can also play right-back and Alex can play as a right-back too.[LNB]"But I can manage the players well as we have a lot of games coming up, particularly with the Champions League."
