Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admits Didier Drogba is crucial to his new season plans.

According to a report in a national newspaper this morning, the Ivory Coast international has not ruled out leaving the Blues this summer - but Mourinho clearly has no plans to let the player go.

He said: "You know Drogba has always been important since he arrived.

"Even in his first season when he was not scoring a lot of goals, his contribution as a team player was massive.

"So when we remember he was the top scorer in the country and one of the best players in the Champions League (last season) and when I see him in training and he looks so sharp and with only one week of work, his quality looks even better than last season.

"I think we will have the same Didier we had last season and that for us is fantastic because as a striker and a team player it's difficult to find better."