体坛英语新闻：Lippi denies Drogba move

GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese super league champions Guangzhou Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi denied the link with Shanghai Shenhua and Cote d'Ivoire striker Didier Drogba, the Italian said on Thursday.

"I know nothing about Didier Drogba's move, I have never contact him myself or via somebody since I took charge of Guangzhou Evergrande," Lippi told Xinhua after Guangzhou's training session on Thursday afternoon.

Several Media based at Shanghai released report saying Lippi had been keeping contact with Shenhua's striker Didier Drogba, even with some convincing details. Shanghai Shenhua's owner Zhu Jun, sent a message to confirm the reports through his microblog on Wednesday, saying, "Yes, somebody finally came to make a bid."

Before The Ivory coast Striker embarked the east China club, Zhu Jun had made the same remarks on the transfer battle of the former Chelsea top scorer.

"We will give Guangzhou Evergrande 10 days, if they could not make it, we will act," Zhu Jun said at the beginning of the season.

However, the Chinese champions fiercely denouncing Shanghai, saying Shenhua's words "made no sense at all despite hyping" .

The former Chelsea striker scored 8 goals and dished out 2 assists in 10 appearance since he joined Shanghai Shenhua, where he has been considered as a hero of the team. While Guangzhou's summer import Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios has disappointed many.

But Lippi appeared to be innocent when asking the Drogba story.

"I don't know how it comes, I am satisfied with my forwards. We already have Lucas(Barrios), Muriqui, Cleo and Gao Lin, we don't need another Drogba," the 64-year old Italian said.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou lead the table by 3 points ahead of Jiangsu Shuntian, who is going to block the defending champions at home two weeks later. On the other hand, Guangzhou will reclaim the title if they overcome Jiangsu.

"I am confident about the team, although we lost Zhang Linpeng and Tang Dechao over suspension, also Feng Xiaoting for injury. But we can make some change, we will make full preparations next week and I believe we can defend the title," Lippi said.