Didier Drogba has dismissed suggestions that he could miss next week's Champions League final with the knee injury he sustained against Bolton. Speaking to L'Equipe, the Chelsea striker insisted he would be back in training "later this week" - and that John Terry, who dislocated an elbow on Sunday, would also be fit to face Manchester United in Moscow.
"I took a blow to my knee that was operated on [back in December], and it hurt at the time," said Drogba. "I put ice on it immediately. But there is nothing serious. I will be at training this week."
On the fitness of Chelsea captain Terry, who was taken to hospital after colliding with his goalkeeper, Petr Cech, Drogba added: "I have spoken to him - he will play in Moscow. No one wants to miss this gigantic match, the match of our careers. That's the case for me anyway."
However Drogba refused to confirm whether he would remain at Stamford Bridge next season, saying: "At the moment, the only thing I have in my mind is the final in Moscow. What will happen in June or July? I still don't know anything."
United head to Moscow looking to complete a European and league double, but Drogba is confident Chelsea can beat the Premier League winners.
"It will play itself out over 90 or 120 minutes, like in the FA Cup final last year (which Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Drogba's goal in the second half of extra time)," he said. "We know that we can beat United, we proved it again in the league a fortnight ago.
"But they deserved their title and were rewarded for their consistency. We made too many mistakes."
The Chelsea manager, Avram Grant, backed up his star forward's claims, insisting that United hold no advantage over his side and that he expects Terry and Drogba to be available.
"We need to wait for training tomorrow but John Terry I think will be okay. With Didier Drogba, I don't how serious it is but I think he will do everything possible to play in this game," said Grant.
"I don't think any team has the advantage. We've played two times against them this season, we won two weeks ago and we lost at Old Trafford in my first game.
"The referee gave a red card, penalty and a goal - nothing was the right decision. I don't think they are better than us and in these games anything is possible."
Grant dismissed rumours abour Drogba's future. "Since I've been in football I've heard so many rumours," he said.
"He didn't say he wants to leave and the club don't say they want him to leave."
Drogba admitted earlier this season he found it hard leaving Marseille for Chelsea in July 2004, and was reported as saying he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge. He maintains that his relationship with fans in England has improved but admits he found it difficult to settle.
"I didn't want to leave Marseille," he added. "I had trouble getting used to Chelsea and I wanted to leave at the end of every season. Not because people were not treating me well, rather because of personal reasons.
"I have started everything again from zero in England. I had to replace a great striker in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was a favourite at the club. It wasn't easy but my relationship with the English supporters has evolved.
"There was at first a dissension between us but I then understood what they expected of me. Now the rapport I have with them is like what I had with the fans at Marseille."
Cech has denied that he is set to leave Stamford Bridge, after his agent claimed that a top European club were interested in signing him.
"Contrary to numerous press stories over the last couple of days, I would like to make it very clear to the Chelsea fans that I have no plans to leave the club," said the goalkeeper.
"I am very happy at Chelsea. I still have two years left on my contract and I believe the club will sit down with my representatives at the appropriate time to discuss an extension."
