Sat, 24th Nov 2007
Salomon Kalou has just one aim for this weekend as he prepares to take on Derby - to score in a Chelsea win.
Kalou returned from international duty with the Ivory Coast this week having booked his county's place in next summer's Olympics, and then helping his nation to a 6-1 win in Qatar, but insists that his focus now is Pride Park.
"It's an important game, we know how important it is for Derby to win," said the popular forward. "We drew our last game at home and need the three points. It will be an interesting game - we have everything, the players and the team to win this kind of game."
It is likely we will have to do so without Kalou's countryman and strike partner Didier Drogba, who is struggling with a knee injury. This means he could be in line for a start as we hope to make it four consecutive league defeats for the Rams.
The omens for our opponents are not good, with Chelsea having scored more goals against Derby than any other in the Premier League. But despite this, and what the league table suggests, Kalou knows Derby will be no pushovers.
'I know that they are struggling to score, and to win games,' he acknowledged. 'But against Chelsea every team gives 200 percent so it will be a hard game.'
With a later kick-off time of 5.15pm, it may be that our players and fans already know the outcome of Saturday's other fixtures. For Kalou, this is a mixed blessing.
'Sometimes it's better when you don't know, because when you do it brings pressure,' he sighed. 'If you don't know you can focus on your game. It doesn't matter what other teams do, we have no choice but to win and take three points.'
With a later kick-off time of 5.15pm, it may be that our players and fans already know the outcome of Saturday's other fixtures. For Kalou, this is a mixed blessing.
'Sometimes it's better when you don't know, because when you do it brings pressure,' he sighed. 'If you don't know you can focus on your game. It doesn't matter what other teams do, we have no choice but to win and take three points.'
lenty has happened in the footballing world over the 13 days since Everton's last-gasp equaliser at Stamford Bridge, but Kalou has not forgotten the frustration of Tim Cahill's overhead kick.
'It was disappointing in the last minute to concede a goal, but now we have the chance to make it right by winning tomorrow,' he explained. 'We have to forget what happened, a win puts us back in contention.
'We are all back from international duty, some players are happy and others disappointed but now we come back together and try to win.'
He is hoping to lead the line as we continue our unbeaten run that extends back to September, and insists a third goal in as many games would round his week off nicely.
'It was disappointing in the last minute to concede a goal, but now we have the chance to make it right by winning tomorrow,' he explained. 'We have to forget what happened, a win puts us back in contention.
'We are all back from international duty, some players are happy and others disappointed but now we come back together and try to win.'
He is hoping to lead the line as we continue our unbeaten run that extends back to September, and insists a third goal in as many games would round his week off nicely.
'That would be a nice weekend for me, and it would complete my weekend to score in a Chelsea win,' he smiled.
Bookmakers Paddy Power list Kalou at 11/2 to score the first goal at Derby.
Bookmakers Paddy Power list Kalou at 11/2 to score the first goal at Derby.
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