LONDON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claimed on Friday
that he will prevent striker Didier Drogba from leaving Stamford Bridge this
summer.
The 28-year-old Ivorian said he wanted to quit the Premiership but Mourinho
says they would not sell him.
"He has two years left on his deal and we consider him to be not
negotiable," said Mourinho. "He has no chance of leaving. He has to play for
Chelsea.
"If he plays with happiness, fantastic, because we get the best of him. If
not, he doesn't play. It's his problem."
Chelsea have been linked with a move for AC Milan striker Andriy
Shevchenko, but Mourinho admits the Italian giants are unlikely to sell the
29-year-old Ukrainian.
He added: "As for Shevchenko, we would like to bring him, but he's a Milan
player and he has a long-term contract with them.
"Milan have the power, like we have the power with Drogba, and my feeling
is that they don't want to sell and they will keep him.
"I like the player and I would like to have him - but a lot of clubs want
Drogba and they can't have him."
Drogba, who cost 24 million pound from Marseille in 2004, came in for heavy
criticism during his second season in England.
He recently had to issue a retraction after admitting diving and scoring
with his hand during a Premiership match against Manchester City.
"I want to move on and avoid all the pressure and scandals. Those things
hurt my feelings," Drogba told the Sun.
"Anywhere I go, the Champions League will be there waiting for me."
While Mourinho has told Drogba that he will not be allowed to leave the
champions, the Chelsea boss is prepared to listen to offers for six other squad
members.
Hernan Crespo, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Carlton Cole, Robert Huth, Lenny Pidgeley
and Glen Johnson could exit Stamford Bridge this summer if the price is right.
Mourinho said: "I don't want to push them, I am not saying I don't like
them or trust them and I am not saying I am desperate to move them - that is not
the case.
"They want more for themselves but the situation is not easy for them at Chelsea.
For example Glen Johnson is a great boy but he has Paulo Ferreira and Geremi
with a lot of experience in front of him.
"Robert Huth is the same thing. He is a player present in the World Cup but
you look at him at Chelsea and he has Ricardo Carvalho and Gallas and John Terry
ahead of him.
"The position with Eidur is that he is a great football player.We want to
keep him but we are open to speak with clubs about him if they show a real
interest in him." Enditem