DIARRA HAS BIG AMBITIONS

Diarra - wants to win trophies.

Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra has big plans, despite failing to hit the heights at Chelsea and Arsenal.

After just 23 first-team starts with the Stamford Bridge club and eight in five months under Arsene Wenger, the French midfielder completed a £5.5million switch to Portsmouth and admitted he did not expect to spend the rest of his career under Harry Redknapp.

But, even though Diarra is now aiming for the stars, he insists regular action is one of the most important things for him.

He said: "What do I want? I want to win the World Cup and the Champions League. And most of all I just want to play.

"I couldn't do that too much at Chelsea and Arsenal. You will have to question Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger about that but they know why I left.

"Here I can play every week with Portsmouth. It is a good team, proved by reaching the FA Cup final, and this is why I'm here.

"I want to win something with Portsmouth and I will be here next season.

"If I end up having the same career as Nicolas Anelka I will be very happy. He plays for the national team and is a good man and a good player - but sometimes people do not understand what really goes on.

"No-one really knows why I left Chelsea and Arsenal but I feel comfortable about it.

"They are three different people I have played for here. I respect Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, but I know which one I prefer.

"I am here because of the manager. If he wasn't here, I can't say I would be but he is the reason I joined Portsmouth and I am happy here."

Diarra could not establish himself at Arsenal because of the form of another French star Mathieu Flamini who, ironically, has now walked out on the Gunners to join AC Milan.

"He is a good player and has done well for Arsenal this season and he deserves to go to Milan. He is my friend as well and I just want to wish him and Arsenal good luck," said Diarra.

"Sometimes you have to try to understand the player. You can't yet say whether it is a good or bad choice.

"We will see but I am happy here. All I think about now is Portsmouth, not Arsenal or Chelsea."

Boss Redknapp promised Diarra a game every week and still raves about his signing - admitting if he had taken the job at Newcastle in January Diarra would probably have gone with him.

"World-class ability," says Redknapp, who knows that even when Diarra gets the urge to move again it will be at a handsome profit.

"He's the sort of player you would once never have thought of as a Portsmouth signing but he's a reflection of how far we've come."

The Mali-born French international added: "With the European Championship coming up it was very important for me to play.

"I've played in 11 of the last 12 games for France I am in the squad and happy to do what the manager asks me.

"Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira are very big players in my position with France but they are 35 and 31 and if I am not picked I still know my time will come."