Chelsea hierarchy not pulling in same direction - Drogba

LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says problems behind the scenes have affected the form of the Premier League champions in recent weeks.

''You have got to look at our current results, they speak for themselves,'' the Ivory Coast international told the Guardian newspaper today.

''From the moment when the board and the manager were not pulling in the same direction, that carried repercussions on the performance of the players.'' Manager Jose Mourinho has recently been at the centre of a barrage of media speculation he might leave the club after disagreements with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea, in second place, have fallen six points behind Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

''It is not an easy situation to be living through,'' added Drogba. ''But us players are welded together on this, that's the most important thing.

''That there should be tensions, we cannot prevent that. A team is always in the image of what happens at board level.'' Chelsea host third division Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

REUTERS PDS RN0700