Demba Ba: 'Big names count for more than statistics at Chelsea'

Demba Ba has suggested that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho did not play him regularly at Stamford Bridge because he was not a 'big name'.

The 29-year-old, who signed for the Blues from Newcastle United in January 2013, was third down the pecking order under Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres last season.

After scoring 14 goals in 23 starts for the West London outfit, Ba opted to leave the club this summer for a new challenge at Turkish outfit Besiktas.

"Sometimes when you are at a club with a lot of big stars, the name counts for more than the statistics," the Daily Mail quotes Ba as saying. "Unfortunately, it was like that in my case, but I am happy I moved from Newcastle to Chelsea and achieved what I did.

"I have lots of friends there. Eden Hazard is one of my best friends, I am close to Branislav Ivanovic, too. All my wishes are for them to win the league."

Ba will go head to head with Arsenal in Turkey on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.