By Joe Doyle
Chelsea striker Demba Ba says he wants the club to focus on winning trophies rather than achieving a top-four finish which would secure Champions League qualification.
The Blues face Rubin Kazan in the last eight of the Europa League and have an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City following their 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Monday.
And Ba says that, having never won a trophy in his career, he would rather pick up silverware than achieve a top-four finish because it is what players are remembered for.
“The top four is very important – but we want a trophy,” Ba told reporters. “We are looking very good in two competitions, the Europa League and the FA Cup.
“We’re going to do everything to win them both. When you retire, no-one remembers that you finished in the top four. They remember you won a trophy. It’s important for a player to win a trophy.
“I have not yet won a trophy in my career. Hopefully this will be the season it happens. We’re in the FA Cup semi-final against one of the best teams in the country, but we’ll go to Wembley to win.”
Ba scored the only goal of the game in the club’s FA Cup quarter-final replay against the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge, and admits it was probably the best goal he has ever scored due to its difficulty and importance.
“I don’t know if it was the best goal I’ve ever scored, but probably,” he added. “It was brilliant and it was in a very important game as well which makes it even more exciting.
“It was a fantastic pass – perfect. It was great timing. When you have a pass like that it’s difficult for the defender. We were very well connected, myself and Juan Mata.
“You have some days when it doesn’t go for you but you have to keep believing in yourself.”
