Pizarro aims to supplant Drogba

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

With last season's leading goalscorer Didier Drogba currently sidelined because of a knee problem, the summer signing from Bayern Munich could be in line to lead the attack against Birmingham when the new campaign kicks off.

Pizarro said: "I am not in England to be a substitute for Drogba. He and Andriy Shevchenko are superstars but Claudio Pizarro is not lame and I will compete with them. My dream is to be the number one striker at Chelsea. I am not scared about having rivals for my place."

The Blues coaching staff have pledged to be more expansive, having recruited fresh faces over the summer which Mourinho feels can adapt to a 4-4-2 formation as well as their trusted diamond which proved so successful in recent years.

However, given the number of injuries to the Chelsea squad, just who will be on the team sheet for the opening of the new Barclays Premier League season remains to be seen.

Full-back Ashley Cole is the latest player to have picked up a knock, reportedly a calf problem, adding to Mourinho's defensive headache with captain John Terry already sidelined for around a month because of his knee injury.

Mourinho feels whomever he puts into the side must be flexible, rather than just looking to slot into a traditional English formation with two widemen and two strikers in front of the back four. The Chelsea manager maintains that can be beneficial in Europe.

"We can see a lot of teams playing a very good possession game, we can see a lot of teams playing with players between the lines, a lot of teams thinking tactically from game to game and not playing always the typical 4-4-2 they used to play every game," he said.

"A lot of teams are playing with three midfielders and sometimes with five at the back.

"I think the game is more tactical it's become more tactical thinking. In my opinion globally about the game, it prepares English teams better to play in Europe."