THEY have named a beer after Didier Drogba in Ivory Coast, but some Chelsea supporters have resisted toasting his name since his arrival last season. The forward had cold water poured on his marksmanship during last year’s campaign, which was disrupted by injury, but he has shown more glimpses of his destructive potential this season.

He has scored six league goals, four fewer than his tally in 2004-05, but he has made more impact on the European stage. His five goals practically took Marseilles to the Uefa Cup final two seasons ago and he managed a similar number in the Champions League as Chelsea reached the semi-final last season.

This time, he says, Chelsea must eclipse that, but their challenge is to equal the standing of the top European clubs. Real Madrid have won nine European Cups, AC Milan six, Bayern Munich four. Chelsea have yet to reach the final, although he believes that they could face Lyons at Stade de France in May. “This year, we at Chelsea have everything to prove,” Drogba said in Champions, the official Uefa magazine. “The only difference between AC Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea is the trophy cabinet. Give us time.”

After losing away to Real Betis, Chelsea still have some work to do to qualify for the final knock-out stage, which may come down to avoiding defeat against Liverpool in the final match. Drogba was named man of the match when they thrashed Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in the league, but that did not avenge their loss to them in the Champions League semi-final last season.

“Let’s not kid ourselves,” he said. “Last season Liverpool deserved their qualification. At Anfield, we never found the flaw in their system, we couldn’t break down their defensive lines. This season, logically speaking, the group favourites should be Liverpool, but realistically, with the squad we have assembled over the last two seasons, we have to try to go further than the semi-finals. Now I have already scored against them. I therefore know I can do it again.”

Arsenal lost their aura of invincibility after defeat at Old Trafford last season, but it may be wishful thinking by rivals to believe that Chelsea will collapse in similar fashion after their 1-0 defeat by Manchester United ten days ago. Chelsea play Newcastle United on Saturday, a team against whom they have scored 12 goals without reply in the league in the past three seasons at Stamford Bridge.

“I just hope that in the long run we can do as well as Arsenal and if possible even better,” he said. “I only hope people are right (when they say the title race is over). But we prepare ourselves to face any situation. We know deep down we’ll lose games; the most important thing is to perform consistently and carry on bagging the points. Even when we weren’t playing well at the beginning of the season, we still picked up points. Chelsea is different from any club I’ve played at before. They are rigorous, meticulous, but I wouldn’t say that we have a star system. All the players are humble. We play as one, as a team, for one of the greatest clubs in the world.”

After six years playing for Le Mans, Guingamp and Marseilles in France, Drogba has admitted that he might one day return to the country where in 2004 he was named footballer of the year. “Of course it is conceivable because I am passionate about French football and about Marseilles,” he said. “The money side is of little importance compared to the passion I have for Marseilles and the league. Having said that, I want to make it clear that for the time being, I feel happy (at Chelsea).

“It is only four years since I was playing in the lower divisions of French football. I like sitting down from time to time and looking back at the good times I have had over the last few years. Clubs such as Le Mans and Guingamp weren’t high profile but they were a great experience. I had some exceptional moments there, as well as at Marseilles, of course.”

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