Bosingwa: Drog is a happy man

Chelsea's Portuguese defender Jose Bosingwa thinks the Blues will enjoy a successful end to the current season.
Guus Hiddink's side remain in the hunt for Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup glory and are desperate to avoid ending a second consecutive campaign empty-handed.
Bosingwa is confident Chelsea will get their hands on at least one piece of silverware this term, with the Portuguese full-back believing the club have found form at just the right time.
"After recent results, the spirit in the squad has risen and we are playing much better," he told the Portuguese media.
"The mentality of the squad has changed and that is partially due to the arrival of Hiddink.
"We now use a different system and have improved as an attacking force.
"The return of (Didier) Drogba to top form is also crucial for us. I think he is very happy at the moment and that is positive for us. He is one of the best strikers in Europe and his quality is unquestionable."
Bosingwa admits the club's disappointing start to the season under former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari affected team morale, but is confident Hiddink can bring the good times back to Stamford Bridge.
"Although it was sad, what happened under Scolari, that is all in the past now," he added.
"Our only interest now is to play well for Hiddink and to do our best in all competitions.
"A club like Chelsea is built to compete at the latter stages of competitions like the Champions League."

Essien's return to first-team duty has, thus far, been greater in terms of impact than any chelsea fan could have predicted. The impressive Ghana international has displayed all the battling midfield qualities that attracted punditry acclaim prior to his sustaining the injury that has dogged his whole season.
If it were not for Essien, the outcome of the Blues' hosting of Manchester City in the press-dubbed 'Clash of the Cash' may have been different, as it was only his first-half goal that separated the two sides.
He possesses a direct style, a willingness to get forward, and an unrivalled box-to-box play that places heavy emphasis on energy.
It is these attributes that team-mate Joe Cole feels Chelsea have sorely missed, and the flair midfielder is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying, "Essien would have made a difference.
"What we've missed is that little bit of pace in the midfield this year. Any team would miss him because he's our engine room," he concluded.
Joe Cole is himself currently sidelined after suffering a similar injury to the one that kept Essien at bay until March. Cole is not expected to be back until the start of next season

Latest: Guus hiddink

Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink believes the squad's adaptability could hold the key to success on three fronts this season.
Chelsea remain unbeaten since the Dutch coach agreed to take charge of the squad and they have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League and semi-finals of the FA Cup.

The Blues are also chasing Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League. Hiddink's side cut United's lead to four points with a 1-0 success over Manchester City on Sunday but the Red Devils still have a game in hand.
However, following four straight league wins and victories over Coventry in the FA Cup and Juventus in the Champions League, Hiddink has been boosted by the squad's versatility as they prepare for two tricky away games at Tottenham and Newcastle.

"I've seen what each of my players can do," said Hiddink. "I knew some things about them before I arrived and now, from working with these players every day, I know much more about them.

"This is a squad that can challenge on all fronts until the end and that's what we are aiming to do. In Coventry we played with three forwards - one striker and two wingers - and against Juventus we started with two strikers.
"In both games we scored twice and controlled them in spells. It shows me that this team can adapt to different ways of playing and we have the squad to change in this way if the situation needs it.

"We have also demonstrated an attitude to recover from setbacks. We came back twice against Juventus to win the tie on aggregate.

"With two more away games against Tottenham and Newcastle, it is not the easiest run of games for us and we'll need to be at our best but we have shown that we can be versatile, both in our approach and in our systems of play."
Meanwhile, captain John Terry has underlined the task facing the Blues if they are to stand any chance of catching Manchester United.

United need to slip up for Chelsea to have a realistic opportunity of winning the title and Terry is adamant that to get anywhere near that target, the Blues cannot afford any more mistakes of their own.
"We still haven't achieved anything this season," said Terry. "In the league we simply can't slip up. We've started a run with the new gaffer but it is only a start. We have to turn it into one of those unstoppable Chelsea runs and, if we do, who knows what we might go on to achieve."

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes it is possible for Hiddink's side to catch United especially with defender Ricardo Carvalho and midfielder Michael Essien fit once again.

Both started in the 1-0 win over Manchester City with Essien's first-half goal - his second in as many games - earning Chelsea another vital three points the day after Manchester United had been mauled 4-1 by Liverpool at Old Trafford.
"Bringing the league trophy back to the Bridge is still a long shot, but not now beyond the bounds of possibility," said Nevin. "Chelsea have to keep on winning for sure, but psychologically, if the Blues keep effortlessly powering past good teams the way they did on Sunday, then that will pile even more pressure on United.

"Losing four goals at home will not have done Sir Alex Ferguson's men much good either, especially as Chelsea have looked so miserly, particularly since Guus Hiddink arrived. If ever shoulders were being looked over in Manchester, now is the time."