Audio By Carbonatix
Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes has intimated that Didier Drogba is just as adept at winning free kicks as he is at scoring goals, describing the Chelsea star as an outstanding actor ahead of Saturday's Champions League final.
The Ivorian is now 34 but he proved in the Blues' semi-final success over Barcelona that he remains one of the most fearsome forwards in the game.
Heynckes has warned his defenders that they will have to maintain both their focus and their composure - in the face of the forward's histrionics - if they are to nullify the threat posed by the former Marseille man.
"Drogba, for many years, has been one of the top strikers in the Premier League and is definitely dangerous - he can score at any moment," the 67-year-old coach told reporters at his pre-game press conference in Munich.
"Sometimes he overdoes it a bit. Sometimes he's an outstanding actor on the pitch."
With Chelsea coming off the back of a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League and the final taking place at the Allianz Arena, many pundits consider Bayern the clear favourites to prevail on Saturday. However, Heynckes is refusing to underestimate the threat posed by Roberto Di Matteo's resurgent Blues.
"If I look at the path of Chelsea through the group stage and in the knockout phase, they beat Napoli 4-1 - a team we played and who are a top team - and then beat Barcelona, the best team in the world," he pointed out.
"Then they drew 2-2 there [at Camp Nou] with a man down. That's a sufficient warning for everybody.
"I don't share the euphoria you hear outside that we're the favourites. In a Champions League final, there is no favourite.
"At Chelsea, they have players who have won everything apart from this, and it's their dream to win it, too."
The eagerly-awaited tournament decider gets under way at 20.45CET.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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