Chelsea
striker Didier Drogba is relishing meeting up again with Frank Lampard on
Sunday, even though the midfielder will be lining up for rivals Manchester
City.
Drogba and Lampard, Chelsea's record goalscorer following 13 seasons at
Stamford Bridge, were key components of the team which delivered the Blues'
first championship in 50 years in 2005 and helped cement the foundations for
their recent success.
Lampard moved to New York City FC in the summer before being loaned to Man
City, the Major League Soccer side's parent club, where the 36-year-old has
struggled to make an immediate impact with just one appearance for City so
far - a 45 minute cameo at Arsenal.
With City set to host their London rivals in a match live on Sky Sports 1 on
Sunday afternoon, Drogba said: "I can't wait to see him - my partner in
crime.
"It is a pity that I came back and he's not here any more, but I will be
happy to see him. It doesn't matter the team where he is playing, I think he
still belongs to us. He is a Chelsea player, for what he did. For me, he is
part of the history of the club."
The Ivorian backed Lampard to show the professionalism for which he is
renowned if he is selected by City at the Etihad Stadium.
"It's going to be difficult," Drogba added. "But I know Frank - he will do
his best if he is playing."
Drogba scored the decisive penalty in the 2012 European Cup win before
spending two years away from Chelsea, returning in the summer following
spells in China and Turkey.
He is no longer Chelsea's first-choice frontman and spurned a number of
opportunities in Wednesday night's Champions League Group G opening draw
with Schalke, while Diego Costa, scorer of seven goals in his first four
Premier League matches, has grabbed the headlines.
Drogba believes the Brazil-born Spain forward, signed for £32 million in the
summer, is making the desired impact and said: "He is the striker we needed
this season.
"When I look at him I can see the desire to win every challenge, and to
score goals. He is hungry for goals and that's the best thing for a team
like us.
"For him to start this season in England, coming from Spain which is a
different league and to recreate the same thing he was doing in Spain is
fantastic."
Drogba is a senior figure in a squad shorn of experienced figures like
Lampard and Ashley Cole.
"I am here to help and give what I can," Drogba said. "I am here also to
show them the spirit, even if I don't have any doubt about their desire to
win."
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