What did Didier Drogba say?
Didier Drogba. France Football magazine. French interview. What follows is not all surprising. Didier must be the most mis-interpreted man in European football now. I first read this news in Goal, Sun and the like. I trust ESPN Soccernet more than these sites. The interview text I read in ESPN Soccernet was different from what was on Sun etc. The way I see it, there is nothing wrong with this interview. Of course, I’m a big fan of Didier Drogba but I don’t think I’m biased.
Further reports arrive that Chelsea FC have fined Drogba a week’s wages for his ‘outburst’. Not sure if this is true. There is no denial in the club website. If what I read is the real text of the interview, I won’t believe the reports on his being fined by the club. With January approaching, the journos work overtime to create rifts and frictions so that it would help their transfer rumour stories.
Firstly, let’s read this interview. Tell what’s wrong with this?
This summer, I didn’t have a head for football anymore. I had completely lost my fire. I didn’t want to hear talk of objectives or ambition anymore. I felt completely extinguished. For the first time in my career, I lost my passion for football. I was lost. Last season could have been terrific and spectacular, in the end it was just a good season which left quite a few regrets.
For the moment, I just have to keep quiet. It’s not because I’ve been here for more than four years that I have the right to have demands on a status of starter. At the moment there is a man who is scoring and who is piling up goals. I only have to wait my turn. I have always said that I was happy that Nicolas came to Chelsea. But I still don’t understand why coaches are scared to play us together. I’m going to let myself be carried by events. I could plant myself here, but I have the impression that in 2009, good things will happen for me. Without doubt there will also be surprises.
The first paragraph is all about his personal tragedy (with his grandma expiring) and then about how the last season went. The second paragraph is about the current situation and hope for the future. I see nothing wrong with the first paragraph. That’s how Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joey Barton would have all felt (but didn’t actually convey). I don’t see anything wrong there. Also, he admits that he cannot demand a starting place just because he’s been with us for four years. Very well said. Then he goes on to give credit to Nicola Anelka. Fine indeed. Then comes the one liner that’s aimed at Scolari. Of course, by the term ‘coaches’, he refers also to Grant. And then he completes it by saying that he’ll take things as they come and hopes for a better future.
The only contentious line in this whole interview could be his question on why coaches are scared to play him and Anelka together. That’s the question that’s in the minds of so many fans and experts alike. While he could have avoided this or could have phrased in a positive manner (like ‘Anelka and I would make a good striking combination’), he hasn’t really blamed or accused anyone. He hasn’t said anything damning about the club, staff or players.
Always, the house is divided when it comes to Drogba. I’m very keen to know what you all think about this whole episode. If any of you read and understand French you can help us better. Even otherwise, tell me do you think Drogba said anything objectionable in the interview? Does he deserve to be fined by the club?
didier has always been outspoken. his comments are never bad enough to be punished but surely pisses off people at the club. this time i think his comments were fine but just is blown out of proportion by the press journalists. even i ask the same question why drogba and anelka cannot play together in a two striker formation? to fine drogba for this will be a bit unfortunate. it’s only a matter of time. if he is back to his best, all this willbe forgotten. i’d be happier if he does not fall into the traps set by the press. he should be much more intelligent with his interviews.
time to sell drogba. it is january. there is no better time than now to sell him. let’s get young striker like benzema. let’s not go for fabiano, kanoute etc. we can also try for agbonlahor. michael owen is a possibility but it will be a gamble.
This is what the media does, take things out of context. Similar to the story of Scolari blaming Cech. If you read the interview all Scolari said was he asked Cech who was marking whom, etc… then you read a headline like “Scolari blames Cech for loss”, the media loves creating feuds and problems so they have more stuff to write about. A similar example was when Robinho said he felt as if he was treated as a God in Manchester when he arrived, then I see a headline “Robinho: I’m God”, it’s quite funny actually how the media is so full of shit. I don’t believe almost all things I read but ESPN soccernet is a much more reliable source than the others I would say.
the story also that ‘because of this fine, drogba’s chelsea future is in doubt’. ha ha that’s all they want. like this is the first time a club fines its players . . .
@ albion1972: Sell our most experienced and proven striker and buy a kid who hasn’t proved himself yet?
I don’t think Drogba is going anywhere. LFS needs the balls to test Drogba and Anelka together.
drogba will be here for a little while, worst scenario he’ll go back to france
id much rather talk about our transfer prospects. Zhirkov looks like he could be a good buy, but can he handle the physicality? He appears to have speed and stamina, but is he strong enough, resillient enough? We should pick him up for a cheap price but we still need a back up at left back and we should sell malouda for a backup at left wing
we need to be careful with the drogba situation, we need to bring the replacement up to standard before we let him go
zhirkov plays as leftback for russia so he can fill in that spot when needed. So can ferriera to an extent. He should be able to handle the roughness of the english game considering the russian game is similar. He is international quality. Zhirkov would be a great signing but probably priced out of reach unless malouda is sold as well.
‘[Jeffrey] Bruma, a young player for the Academy, started training with us and will not go back to the young players, but playing sometimes in the reserve team.
‘One player that came from Southend, Lee Sawyer, is training with me again and will stay with me, and sometimes play games in the reserve team. Tomorrow he is in the squad.’
what about trying sinclair and stoch??
[quote comment="63180"]This is what the media does, take things out of context. Similar to the story of Scolari blaming Cech. If you read the interview all Scolari said was he asked Cech who was marking whom, etc… then you read a headline like “Scolari blames Cech for loss”, the media loves creating feuds and problems so they have more stuff to write about. A similar example was when Robinho said he felt as if he was treated as a God in Manchester when he arrived, then I see a headline “Robinho: I’m God”, it’s quite funny actually how the media is so full of shit. I don’t believe almost all things I read but ESPN soccernet is a much more reliable source than the others I would say.[/quote]
I get whst your saying and I would like to echo that the media are a set of bastards!!
even before BC cleared this you i said last night that the media should have more respect and stop making up stories!!
drogba always gets the shit end of the stick why couldnt our club do their reseach just how BC did his and find drogba not guilty!! Just make sou wonder how much they rate the drog
Drogba to stay..no comment
is scolari pushing out bridge to save ferreira!! ???? who will cover the LB now is cole gets injuried? I mean bridge was more attacking than cole our best crosser and good defending. Why the fuck didnt they try to sell ferreira in stead!! I dont want o us to be come a nationa team!! portugal or brazil but i think we should hold on to our English players!! thats the grit in the team .. the heart!! we are selling out core! DAMN that Kenyon!!
damn damn damn. This reminds me of us selling Guddy! We will regret it eventually you all see how he will do well down that left side and wiping in those crosses!! One of my favourite players of recent years. Loyal, decent, never moaned and was more often than not, ready to put in good performances when called upon. I’ve always favoured him over Cole
I could never understand why managers didn’t rotate Bridgey and Ashley Cole more often. I mean, Bridge was always the better attacker whilst Cole was superior defensively – why couldn’t Wayne have played against some of the lesser opposition? I blame all the managers who didnt rotate bridge with cole properly!!
I am really excited about the Ben afra and Uri link!!
why not go for Zaki as well he is good and we all know he can score great goals
hej blue-mates
All this fuzz about DD, is blown out of proportion!
BC, I think one thing that did make the club pissed off is he said, “he didnt get enought support from the club, even thought they flew him to africa wit private jet” I dont know if its true or not but this is what >I read in some of the online-sites.
Personaly I think he needs to shut up and let his game do all the talking. for the record am probably one if his biggest fan on this planet. but I think since things havent gone his way lately he needs to let his football talk. I know he gets missunderstood alot, specialy at first when he wasnt good enought wit his english. plus lately he havent been doing much noise on the pitch so he should put all his energy on the trainingground to get back to the MVP season (of 2007). One more thing, since he been around for soo long he should know how things work and what he can say and not say in public. since gallas is his buddy shouldnt he have learned from his mistakes about speaking out from ur heart??????????
About him possibly leaving? that would be the worst scenario for CFC first and for all us fans. I dont care about all them cats out there, no one can do what drogs can. ok maybe ibra.
but longterm ofcourse we will need to replace him but am not to concerned wit that right now. I bet the club are both tired of him bein outspoken and out of shap /not drog-fit, and they are trynna trade him or get rid of him. I think maybe thats why LFS havent been playing him much, cause they have decided they want to get rid of the drogs. Or maybe they want to state an example. am clueless like everyone else to why coach cant start him and the french Blur Nic? Hope am way off wit this one thought.
one more thing, Drog is a emotional person from what I understand and that is one of his best asset and one of his biggest weaknesses also. So the Coach, LFS, should try to please him to the best of his ability and its not about giving any special treatment 2 drogs, but what LFS needs to do to get the best out of his players.
hope the new year started out well for everyone out there, hope we can get on wit the season wit our current squad!!!
Come on chelsea
Drogs has always been a whinny little baby though… just look at the way he plays… I just hate it when he gets tapped and goes down as if a boulder had just rolled over him. Any time he loses the ball he fakes injury and lays on the floor as if he is hurt. That sort of play we don’t need at the Bridge and in England in general as I see J. Cole occasionally taking part in those types of acts as well as Ballack. Really needs to stop!
”But I still don’t understand why coaches are scared to play us together” is what Drogba said.Playing with one striker works well if you are a small team playing against a big team and trying to score with counterattacks in order to steal the win.But when we are talking about Chelsea, two strikers playing together seems the logic thing to do.So Drogba said the truth and only the truth, something that everybody seems to understand except Scolari.
Didi is our best striker enough said
lets leave drogba alone please! this guy is a great player for our team.