Drogba: No more slip-ups

Didier Drogba admits Chelsea cannot afford to lose many more points if they are to stand any chance of regaining the Barclays Premier League title.

Drogba is out of Saturday's clash with Blackburn at Stamford Bridge after failing to shake off a knee injury he sustained in the 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa a fortnight ago - and the Ivory Coast striker accepts the top flight is becoming more and more competitive and Chelsea can ill afford to let their rivals steal a march on them.

Drogba told Sky Sports News: "In the league, there is a long way to go and to lose some points is not something good. We know what we have to do now if we want to be first and finish top of the league. I think the big teams are improving because they bought a lot of players and the league is improving and getting more difficult."

Meanwhile, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has warned the rest of Europe that Germany captain Michael Ballack is not for sale.

Ballack's absence from the Blues' Champions League squad sparked fresh speculation the midfielder would be sold in January's transfer window, with Real Madrid favourites to land him.

But Kenyon insists that is not the case, saying: "We should kill that one, not just for now but for January. There has been no discussions.

"The decision to leave Michael out of the squad is purely medical. Any suggestion it is surrounding a transfer in January is equal rubbish."