Crespo makes Chelsea pledge

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Crespo makes Chelsea pledge BBC 2004.07.08 Hernan Crespo has vowed to stay and fight for a place at Chelsea despite reporting back to the club late and being linked with a return to Italy. The Argentine's future at the club was plunged into doubt this week when he missed the first pre-season work-out. Crespo was also reported to be keen on linking up with AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him at Parma. But the striker told The Daily Mirror newspaper: "I love Chelsea and I'm willing to fight for the team." Crespo was a first-team regular under former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri at the start of last season, but he slipped down the pecking order after an injury lay-off and dip in form. Now the arrival of Serbian striker Mateja Kezman poses a further threat to the South American. New manager Jose Mourinho is also believed to be keen on Marseille's Didier Drogba, lending further weight to the view that Crespo's Chelsea days are numbered. But the ￡16.8m forward added: "I made a commitment to the club when I came to London last year and I do not want to turn my back on Chelsea. "It is tough when you train hard and you work hard and then you are not given a chance. This happened last season and I hope it will not happen this season."