Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed a new four-year deal
running until 2010.
The 28-year-old joined the club for £24m in July 2004 and has been
in fine form this season with 10 goals in 15 games to his
credit.
The Ivory Coast international told Chelsea's television station: "I
am not playing well just because I wanted to sign a new
contract.
"I'm playing well as I feel good and I am happy to train with my
friends."
There were doubts cast over Drogba's first-team chances at Chelsea
when manager Jose Mourinho landed striker Andriy Shevchenko in the
summer.
But Drogba has risen to the challenge while Shevchenko has
struggled for form.
Drogba scored a last-gasp equaliser against Barcelona in a
Champions League match on Tuesday as well as netting the winner
when the two clubs met in the reverse group game.
His collection of goals so far during the campaign also saw him
grab an exquisite winner when Liverpool visited Stamford
Bridge.
Drogba added: "I want to say thank you to Jose for believing in me
since the beginning and now we will be together for a long time.
The best period of my career I think.
"I am happy because when I came here it wasn't easy for me to say I
would be signing a new contract with Chelsea, because everybody
knows the first year was difficult.
"The second one was okay but I knew I could do better."
Drogba has been linked with possible moves to either Italian side
AC Milan and Lyon of France but Mourinho believes the signing of a
new deal will put any speculation to bed.
"It is good for Chelsea, Didier deserves a big contract.
"Now he can go to Milan for shopping and no-one can say he goes to
sign a contract.
"His friend from Lyon can call and people don't say he is calling
to sign him. It's fantastic."