Chelsea Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Rafael Benitez

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42440

Lamps expects Drogba fight

16 Jan 2009 - 07:58:24

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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes Didier Drogba will respond positively to being dropped by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The out-of-sorts striker was not included in the squad which defeated Southend United 4-1 in an FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday evening.

Scolari was widely thought to be singling out the Ivory Coast striker for criticism when he turned on his side in the aftermath of Sunday's 3-0 defeat at title rivals Manchester United.

The Brazilian coach fumed: "Some players have been at 75 to 80 per cent while others have been at 35-40 per cent.

"The balance for our team in the last five games has been 50 per cent."

The dropping of Drogba has led to suggestions that the striker may seek a transfer window move away from Stamford Bridge, with Internazionale believed to be his preferred destination.

But vice-captain Lampard expects the former Marseille hitman to knuckle down and win back his starting place.

"Hopefully he will remain a massive part of this club because he's definitely one of the best, if not the best striker in the world," he said.

"Didier is a very big personality and player at this club and he will take it in the right way, I'm sure.

"It's the manager's prerogative to leave players out. Every manager I've played under, and I've played under some top managers, has the right to drop someone, put them on the bench, rest them, whatever."