Kalou praises Chelsea's winning spirit

After setting up Didier Drogba for the winner against Juventus in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League first knockout round a fortnight ago, winger Salomon Kalou is confident Chelsea FC can finish the job in Turin on Tuesday. Here the 23-year-old tells uefa.com about life under new manager Guus Hiddink, taking a penalty in the shootout in last season's UEFA Champions League final and his pride at being voted young African Player of the Year.

uefa.com: How strong is Chelsea's position going into the second leg?

Salomon Kalou: It's good to win 1-0 because we did not concede at home. We go there knowing we can score in any game so it's a good advantage. I expect a really difficult game because playing against an Italian team in Italy is always difficult. Juventus are a very experienced team with great players. We have to play our game, focus on ourselves and try to score. If we score one they have to score three. The most important thing is that we are back to the winning spirit. We have been playing well and winning games and we have to keep doing that.

uefa.com: What has impressed you most about Guus Hiddink?

Kalou: He brings the team assurance. You feel like he is in control of what he is doing. That's what we need right now, someone who can take the team to the top and who can push the players to their best. He's the right person to do that.

uefa.com: How has the attitude in the squad changed since Hiddink arrived?

Kalou: He has changed a lot. Players who weren't playing feel like they have a chance now. Players who were playing have to give more if they want to keep their position, so everyone is motivated. That is for the benefit of the team because it makes everyone do their best and try to impress the new coach.

uefa.com: Three of the four English teams won and none conceded a goal in the first legs. Is the Premier League dominance of the UEFA Champions League set to continue?

Kalou: It has been like that for almost four years. Every time there is an English team in the semi-finals. It is one of the best leagues in the world, with world-class players so I'm not surprised English teams are doing well in the Champions League.

uefa.com: What was going through your mind when you stepped up to take your penalty in the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United FC?

Kalou: I was thinking: 'You don't want to be the one that makes the team lose. You have to be strong and show you deserve to be in the team.' So I took the ball, didn't think twice, took my position and shot where I always shoot in training. It worked out for me, it was a good penalty, but we didn't win so I just forgot about it. I don't think I was nervous because when it was my turn I just ran to the ball. I didn't wait for the referee to say shoot, I just wanted to take the penalty and wait for the victory, but it didn't happen. Maybe next time.

uefa.com: What is your lasting memory of that match?

Kalou: As a player you always dream of the Champions League final and I made it there. It didn't turn out the way I wanted; I didn't win it, but being there was a great experience for me.

uefa.com: It was an epic match. Do Chelsea players still discuss it?

Kalou: We don't talk about it a lot because we didn't win so there is not a lot to say, but to be in the final of the Champions League … there are a lot of great players who have never been to that level so it was a great experience.

uefa.com: What does it mean to win the Young African Player of the Year award?

Kalou: It means a lot because there is so much talent in Africa. I work hard at Chelsea in every training session and in every game I try to do my best so that's a good achievement.

uefa.com: Are Chelsea fans seeing the best of you now?

Kalou: I'm developing my game every season. I think I can show more. In the last two months I've been playing more often so I have to keep playing well and that's how I can improve, by doing my best.

uefa.com: You were the front man in a prolific partnership with Dirk Kuyt at Feyenoord but at Chelsea you have had to adapt to playing on the wing.

Kalou: It's different now, playing in a big club with big players so I have to adapt to the team. Before the team adapted to me and Kuyt. When you come to a team like Chelsea to be a great player you have to adapt to how the team plays and the players. In doesn't matter which position I play, I always try my best.

uefa.com: How hard was it to prove to your team-mates you deserved a chance when you arrived in 2006?

Kalou: It was hard because you come from nowhere and nobody has heard about you, and you go into the Chelsea dressing room with all the big names, it's difficult to tell them to give you the ball. But by working hard in every training session I won the respect of my team-mates so now they feel they can give me the ball to make the difference. That is a big achievement for me.

uefa.com: As a young player what can you learn from someone like Didier Drogba?

Kalou: He has been playing at a high level for eight years now and I'm looking to do as well as him. I hope to get to his level one day so it's good to follow his footsteps. He helped me to settle in the team.