Drogba to put love for Blues aside and end their cup quest
FORMER Chelsea favourite Didier Drogba has vowed to put his loyalty aside for 90 minutes tonight and end the Blues’ dream of winning a second Champions League title in three years.
Drogba, 36, ended his eight-year stay at Stamford Bridge with a pivotal role in their 2012 Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich, scoring the last of his 157 Chelsea goals to send the final to extra time and, later, the decisive penalty.
The Ivorian also won nine domestic trophies with the Blues, including three Premier League titles, though is adamant his primary focus tonight will be to help current club Galatasaray improve on the 1-1 first-leg result and reach the quarter-finals.
“I just want to win the game, I just want to qualify. There’s nothing personal against Chelsea, there will never be,” he said. “To leave Chelsea on a high like I did, if I could do I would do it again the same way.
“It’s very difficult to play against Chelsea, but it’s not going to be difficult for me to put myself into the competition mode.
“Of course there will be emotions, like the first leg. But then there was the game and the game was tough with high intensity. I think it’s going to be the same [tonight].
“The Champions League is a big competition and it means a lot for my team. I’ll find a way to play.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho made Drogba one of his first signings after arriving from Porto.
Ten years have passed since the Blues paid Marseille £24m for Drogba, but Mourinho still believes he is one of the most fearsome forwards in the world and that an eventual return to Stamford Bridge is inevitable.
“Is he the same player at 36 that he was at 26? Nobody is. But he’s one of the best strikers in the world,” said Mourinho. “Undoubtedly he’s one of the most important players in the history of this club.
“When a person represents so much to a club and the club represents so much to a person I think he has to be welcomed back.
“When, I don’t know. As a player, a coach, an ambassador, next year, in four or five years, or 10 years, I don’t know. But I think it has to happen.”
EIGHT GREAT YEARS
Didier Drogba struck 157 goals in 341 games after joining Chelsea in 2004
Won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups
Lifted the Champions League trophy in his final match for the club in 2012