Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
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Scolari praise for strike duo

25 Sep 2008 - 08:26:11

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Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari believes strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are showing signs of getting back to their best after catching the eye in Wednesday's 4-0 Carling Cup rout of Portsmouth.

The Ivory Coast pair both started the new season out of the first-team picture with Drogba rehabilitating from summer knee surgery and Kalou at the Olympic Games.

But with Drogba managing 79 minutes of the third round tie and Kalou scoring in a man-of-the-match performance, Scolari was delighted with the pair's return to prominence.

"Didier was better than the last two games in which he played 45 minutes, now he has improved," claimed the Brazilian coach.

"In the future maybe he'll be the same Didier as last season, but for now I am happy because he is playing very well.

"Kalou is better than 20 days ago when he arrived back from the Olympic Games.

"When he arrived he was in bad condition, but now it is the same Kalou as in (pre-season trips to) China and Russia, in a good condition.

"It is very good for us because I have Joe (Cole), Kalou and (Florent) Malouda and in the future I will have Deco in this position as well."