Crespo content before England duel

Few games
The 30-year-old has played just 59 minutes in this term's UEFA Champions League while making only four starts in the English champions' Premiership campaign. Indeed, Crespo missed out entirely on Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Manchester United FC, revealing today that he has had a calf problem and is keen to get his season up and running.

High praise
"My condition is good and I feel much better," he said, before going on to describe José Mourinho as "one of the best managers in the world". Despite rumours to the contrary, Crespo underlined his commitment to the Chelsea cause. "Mourinho is a good person and I am very happy to be with him," he said. "I want to play more but I need to have patience and my time will arrive.

Still time
"When you play in a great team, you need to deserve to play 90 minutes. The season is beginning. I need to wait and work and my time will arrive." Before then is the small matter of England at the Stade de Genève on Saturday, with the former AC Milan forward particularly excited about the prospect of coming up against club colleagues.

Familiar faces
"It will be fantastic to have the opportunity to play against Frank [Lampard] and John [Terry]," said Crespo, who may also find himself facing team-mates Wayne Bridge, Joe Cole and Shaun-Wright Phillips in an international fixture that is always worth watching. Both nations have qualified for next year's FIFA World Cup, with their last meeting having come in the group stage of the 2002 finals, England winning 1-0.

'World derby'
"When you play England, you do not need any motivation," Crespo said. "It is like a world derby. More or less it is like Brazil against Argentina for us. There is no such thing as a friendly, but when we finish the game we will all be friends. When you start a match against anyone you want to win. We have history and it is beautiful when you play these kinds of games."