Pressure no problem for Drogba

Didier Drogba is revelling in the pressure of spearheading Chelsea's triple trophy challenge despite having struggled for his best form this season.

The Ivory Coast striker has been hampered by various fitness problems since joining the English Premier League leaders in a 24 million pounds ($44.88 million) deal last July from French club Olympique Marseille.

However Drogba, who was named player of the year in France last season, was back to his best as he helped Chelsea beat Bayern Munich 4-2 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

"I don't get too carried away now because a few years ago I was in the (French) second division on the bench at Le Mans," he told reporters on Friday.

"It helps me to realise how fast life can change. Life can turn you up and down and for me the pressure was in the second division because I wanted to play in the first division. That was real pressure.

"I had to change a lot of things in my life. I was young and learning how to be a professional.

"I have made a lot of mistakes but when you make them you learn more. I learnt how I had to prepare mentally to be a top professional because I wasn't being very good.

"I was playing well one game and the game after I was terrible. It was not the way you should be if you want to be strong in your career.

"The fee (from Chelsea) has not put me under pressure. Everything I'm doing is what I have done last year. When you play for a club like Marseille, you can play anywhere you want without pressure."

Drogba has struck 14 goals in all competitions this season to keep Chelsea on course for a treble comprising the Premier League title, the Champions League and the League Cup which they won in February.

SEVENTY PERCENT

He is adamant, though, that the best is yet to come.

"I'm not at 100 percent and haven't been all season. It has been frustrating because every time I was near to my real top level I had an injury so I had to rebuild everything.

"I have been more like 70 per cent but I still give my all. The Premiership is very physical and it has not been easy to adapt.

"I have had a lot of injuries so I am happy to have scored 14 goals."

I hope there is a lot more to come from me because the fans haven't seen the best of me yet."