“We have made too many mistakes, including on Sunday when we let Bolton equalise 30 seconds before the end of added time.”

Drogba, though, says Chelsea can beat United in a one-off game and is sure he and captain John Terry will both be fit for next week’s Champions League final.

“I spoke with John about his injury and he will play in Moscow,” said Drogba, who took a knock to his knee. “Nobody wants to miss this huge encounter. It is the game of one’s career – certainly mine in any case.

“The Champions League final will be different. We know we can beat United. We won the FA Cup final last year and beat them again two weeks ago.”

The final could prove to be Drogba’s last appearance for Chelsea before a summer move. “I don’t yet know what will happen in June or July,” he said.

He added: “I did not want to leave Marseille to join Chelsea. I struggled to settle and wanted to leave at the end of every season.

“Not because they were treating me badly, but because of personal unease. I had to start completely from scratch in England.

“It was not easy, but my relationship with the club’s fans developed. I then came to see what they were expecting from me.”