DROGBA TORN ABOUT JANUARY DEPARTURE

DIDIER DROGBA has admitted he feels torn about leaving Chelsea for the African Cup of Nations tournament.

Chelsea's Ivory Coast forward is in the form of his life with 16 goals in all competitions for the Blues but is duty-bound to represent his country in January.

It will be a proud moment for Drogba to lead Les Elephants in Angola but as he explains a need to fulfil his duty, he almost sounds guilty at the prospect of leaving London behind.

He said: "It will be difficult for me to leave Chelsea for the African Nations because Chelsea pays my wages. Just for that reason it's going to be difficult to go for a month.

"But I think they understand that we have to go, we have to represent our countries. The other African players want to be here with Chelsea but we need to go.

"It's a difficult decision to make but the good thing is that the club respect that and show a lot of respect for the African players.

"I don't know if I will go to the two-week training camp beforehand. I will speak to the national team manager and Carlo Ancelotti to find the best deal for everyone involved."

Although Drogba's hectic schedule has caused a slight conflict of conscience, Chelsea's top striker says he would not want to swap his situation for anyone else.

Exciting

He still vividly remembers his days at French club Guingamp where just seven years ago people were questioning whether he was good enough to play for the second division outfit.

He explained: "I have a lot of football to play this season but I will never complain because a few years ago I was in the second division with France so this kind of season is very exciting for me.

"I have the chance to play in the World Cup again which has always been my dream.

"I did it 2006 and now I'll get to do it again and I expect Chelsea to still be competing for the Champions League, Premiership and FA Cup when I come back from the African Nations.

"Both Premier League and Champions League are very important to us. I will be giving the team some harsh phone calls if we lose points while I'm gone.

"Players always have to take responsibility. Even with Ancelotti the pressure is on us because we are on the pitch. The difference has to come from us. Our manager has brought something to Chelsea but in the end it's down to us."

Nicolas Anelka will be expected to repeat the goal-scoring highs of last season to keep Chelsea top of the table in the absence of Drogba, Saloman Kalou and midweek Champions League goalscorer Michael Essien.

Clicking

Despite doubts over whether the pair could play together Drogba has hit it off with the man dubbed Le Sulk.

But Drogba insists his partnership with Anelka is no more special that of Chelsea's other world class strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo in the past.

He instead credits his return to full fitness as being the key to the pair clicking as the striker finally shook off repeated knee injuries that have blighted him in the past.

His patchy form led to question marks over his long-term effectiveness for the team under former managers Phil Scolari and Avram Grant.

"Me and Anelka find each other very well," he added. "I'm feeling good. For the first time since my surgery in 2008 I feel really good.

"I've got no injuries at all and when I feel like this it's easier for me to show what I can do. That is the difference this season.

"We didn't play much together but during my partnership with Hernan Crespo I was also getting on very well.

"With Sheva it was difficult because he had injuries and we changed the system so it was difficult for us to pay together with just one striker on the field. But when we did play together we scored goals because of our movement.

"It's nice to have goals as a target but it's only good if you win something at the end of the season with the team.

"If I score 40 goals and we don't win anything that's not enough. I'm not selfish like that. It's really not my ambition. We have to win something big at the end."

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