Arjen Robben made a promise yesterday to not dive next season. The Dutchman has been criticised for going to ground too easily, particularly against Liverpool in February when José Reina raised his hand, while Didier Drogba's recent tumbling has further damaged Chelsea's reputation for fair play.

"Those things happened," said Robben. "Diving has been a very big issue this season, I think. Everyone has his opinion about it. I have mine. You have yours. I don't want to look back. I want to look forward. Next season I won't be in the headlines for diving again. That's a promise. Next year you won't write about me diving again."

Robben said the regularity with which he fell last season was because of his mental state, created by bad experiences in 2004-05.

"If you look back to the season before this, I had three injuries," he said. "I think people forget that sometimes. At that time I had comments like: 'You have to jump sometimes' and 'you have to avoid getting kicked' because I broke my foot three times. Sometimes you just jump out of the way. Sometimes maybe the style of jumping or falling is not the nicest but I haven't been kicked this season and that's a good thing. I'm not a diver. I know that. Next season I'll just carry on the way I play and I won't change my game at any time."

The flak Robben endured for his style of avoiding injury this season - with Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho believed to have been unhappy about it - means Robben could be forgiven for seeking refuge by leaving Stamford Bridge. With the arrival of Michael Ballack imminent, a move would seem logical but Robben feels he still has a lot to offer.

"People forget I'm still only 22. I have a lot of confidence. I'm not afraid about losing my place. Maybe with some extra world-class players coming in it's going to be even harder but I am very confident."