Last words for Anigo

By Matthew Spiro

Olympique de Marseille coach José Anigo is hoping for another inspirational performance from Didier Drogba against Valencia CF in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final.

Race against time
Drogba has found the net eleven times in Europe this season - five in the UEFA Champions League and six in the UEFA Cup - scoring against every opponent he has faced. And although the 26-year-old has not played since picking up a hip injury against AS Monaco FC on 9 May, he will almost certainly be thrust back into action against the Spanish champions.

Important presence
"We are all very hopeful that Didier will be there," Anigo told uefa.com. "He's become such an important player for us that his mere presence lifts everyone around him. It would be a real hammer blow if Didier didn't play."

'He's got it all'
The coach did not hesitate in describing the Ivory Coast international as "one of the best players in the world". Anigo enthused: "He's got it all - speed, control, intelligence - plus he scores magnificent goals. We've come up against [Christian] Vieri and [Michael] Owen recently, two of the best in the business, but Didier compared favourably to them. There's no one I'd rather have playing up front for Marseille on Wednesday."

French greats
Anigo believes Drogba's style is a mixture of two French football legends, Jean-Pierre Papin and George Weah, and is tipping Marseille's top scorer for greatness. "Like Weah he has strength and power and fabulous technique, but he also has that sense of where the goal is like Papin had. What is most frightening is that there is still room for improvement in his game," Anigo added with a smile.

Valencia power
For all Drogba's brilliance, Anigo knows it will take exceptional performances from every one of his players to get the better of a Valencia side that has wrested the Spanish title from Real Madrid CF. "They are an outstanding team," said the former Marseille youth-team coach. "They defend extremely well but they also counterattack with speed and precision and we'll have to be alert in every area to compete with them."

Mighty underdogs
While many have lamented the failure of Europe's biggest clubs to reach finals this season, Anigo insists the achievements of FC Porto and Valencia in particular should not be underestimated. "They may not have the stars of Madrid or Manchester United [FC], but the way they work as a team is extraordinary, " he said. "They have provided a model for the likes of Marseille to try to emulate."

Remarkable achievement
Anigo has enjoyed remarkable success since replacing Alain Perrin as Marseille boss in January and, while he clearly has enormous respect for Valencia, the bald-headed coach is confident he can finish his first season in management with a European trophy. "If I didn't believe that I wouldn't bother going to Sweden," he said. "We've knocked out Liverpool [FC], [FC] Internazionale and Newcastle [United FC] and we can beat Valencia," stressed Anigo, who wants his players to take inspiration from the Marseille team that won the Champions League eleven years ago.

Why not?
"In many ways this game reminds me of the 1993 final when no one gave Marseille a chance of beating [AC] Milan," he explained. "That night Marseille played with determination, organisation and great skill. Why can't the same happen on Wednesday? After all, it's not always the strongest side that comes out on top in a final."