Drogba makes United favourites
Drogba will be hoping to fly the blue flag on Saturday
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Friday, 18, May 2007 09:59
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says Manchester United are the favourites to lift the FA Cup on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast international, who picked up the Premiership's golden boot award earlier this week after scoring 20 league goals in 2006/07, said that while both teams were strong, United have the edge.
"They went to the semi-finals of the Champions League and so did we, but they controlled the league so maybe you can say they are the favourites," he told Sky Sports.
"Although I think the two teams are about equal."
Chelsea are struggling with a lengthy injury list ahead of the showpiece in the English domestic calendar, with stars Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko ruled out completely and first-choice centre-back Ricardo Carvalho only a "one per cent chance" of playing, according to Blues manager Jose Mourinho.
But Drogba says that despite these problems, Chelsea would no doubt be able to compete with the Premiership champions.
"When you have so many injuries you have to find another way to win," Drogba continued.
"You need commitment. But I think when we go there on Saturday it is going to be a very good final."
The match will be Drogba's first FA Cup final since he joined the Blues from Marseilles in 2004 and he said walking out onto the hallowed turf in north-west London would be "a big moment".
"The last game I remember [at Wembley] was Manchester United in the FA Cup [against Liverpool in 1996] with Eric Cantona scoring a fantastic goal and also France beating England with Nicolas Anelka scoring two goals," Drogba added.
With a 90,000 capacity crowd expected at the brand new venue for the first time ever, the atmosphere promises to be special when the two managers lead their teams out ahead of the 15:00 BST kick-off.