Drogba backs Sven to succeed

Striking superstar welcomes appointment

Last updated: 29th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Drogba backs Sven to succeed

Drogba: Happy with Sven

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Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba has welcomed the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as the country's new manager.

The Chelsea striker is full of belief that the former Mexico and England boss will succeed.

Eriksson will take charge of the Elephants for the World Cup finals in South Africa and Drogba is happy with the Swede's arrival.

"There is no doubt Sven will succeed. This is someone who knows the game inside out," he told Football365.co.za.

"I have every belief in his ability to take us far and even exceed the targets set for him by the Federation.

"With the little I saw of him while he was in England and what I have heard, read and watched about, I think Sven has come at the right time."

Pleased

Drogba is pleased to finally see an appointment being made, over a month after Vahid Halilhodzic was fired.

"This is like a wish come true for me and most of my colleagues," he said.

"For weeks and months we have been pondering over going to the World Cup without a coach but what we feared most has taken a different twist.

"Now I don't have to wake up every morning and think about the future of my team without a coach.

"Surely all things will work in line for us with Eriksson in charge.

"As a seasoned coach, he definitely knows how to pull in those surprises when least expected. We have a solid team and that alone solves half of his problem.

"The only problem he will face maybe will be the selection of a winning eleven out of a team full of talents."

Drogba also maintains that Ivory Coast can win the finals.

"We are going to South Africa to win big," said the ace.

"This is not something I am saying alone. It is the general feeling when you talk to the other boys in our team.

"Our performance in Germany was not up to what we set out to achieve.

"We have to improve and play much better if we want the other teams to take us serious. This is not a tournament you can go and play just anyhow.

"It has to be better this time round and I hope Sven provides us with that spirit and direction."