After an indecisive summer full of want-away stories and quotes of displeasure, Didier Drogba has had a quiet start to this season. However, it was inevitable he’d find his voice sooner or later – and he appears to have chosen a slot on Chelsea TV to explain his decision to stay, and that night in Moscow.
On all the stories we heard during the course of last season, Drogba says “It was in my head to leave but just a few days after Moscow I knew what I was going to do the next season and where I was going to be. I could not leave without winning anything, especially when we lost the Champions League Final after coming so close.” But according to the Ivorian striker, with half an eye on a move somewhere else, it wasn’t just losing that made him stay, because he goes on to say “Of course, when you watch things like the European Championship you always think you could go to this club and play with those players. But when you have a contract it is important to respect it, and I’m very happy with my contract.”
So that’s as clear as mud then. First, he stayed because he couldn’t leave without winning something, and then it was because he ‘respects’ his contract. But hang on, because before anyone decides which reason sounds the most likely, he has another one for us. You see, whilst resuming his relations with the press, Drogba has told them it was actually Scolari who persuaded him to stay at Chelsea.
On his new boss, the Ivory Coast man says “Scolari is one of those coaches who is very close to the players. His style is similar to Mourinho’s. I like this type of coach. I feel much more comfortable with this style of management. I spoke with him [Scolari] and he showed he wanted me to stay and that’s what finally convinced me. It’s true that it was 50/50 as to whether I would stay but I still think I have something to prove.”
And with Luiz Felipe Scolari making his expectations of our players clear this week, stating “What I want from all my players is that they’re happy they play for Chelsea, rather than only if they’re playing in the team. This is Chelsea, we’re a team, a group. If players are unhappy then in January they will be out. Any player. They need to understand they all win as a group. Any player who’s here for themselves needs to go somewhere else”, maybe that’s exactly what it is Drogba has to prove?
Anyway, with him opening his soul, what does Didier Drogba have to say about that night? Well his explanation goes like this: “I was sent off because I was very frustrated and emotional. I don’t see how you could not be emotional at that stage of a game like that – the second half of extra-time, with three minutes left. It is something I should not have done but I do not think it was a red card.”
Good to see him taking responsibility, I assume the apology will be in the next interview?
Blue is the colour
