Premiership: Desailly vows to play on

Marcel Desailly has vowed to honour his Chelsea contract - three months after admitting he might have to retire.

Desailly, 33, revealed in November his Achilles injury could force him to hang up his boots.

But he has now said he wants to continue with Chelsea - and also as France captain.

"I do not wish to stop my career, whether it is on an international or club level, as long as I am fit and playing well," said Desailly.

"I am still very happy to play football. I have another two years on my contract with Chelsea and I intend to honour them."

Desailly believes France coach Roger Lemerre will not make any surprise selections as his country attempt to defend their world title this summer.

The defender, who will lead Les Bleus into Wednesday's friendly against Romania at the Stade de France, said: "I think Roger has already got a very good idea of the list of players that will play in the World Cup.

"He will choose players for their qualities and their international experience.

"There will be a lot of faces that have been present in the past. We are not a team that is growing, like England for example.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson's side relies on good individuals, but they need to build on the collective side, which is not our case any more.

"Everything is going fine with Roger as well. There is a continuity in his work.

"The departure of some players after the World Cup might break this continuity a little bit but I am sure that 80 per cent of the current squad will be at Euro 2004.

"After that there might have a brutal awakening and a new team will have to be built, but we are not there yet."