That's what Didier told AVB back in November
Published: 21st May 2012
DIDIER DROGBA ridiculed former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas last November for suggesting the club could win the Champions League.
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At the time, the Blues legend was unsettled and angry after Villas-Boas had repeatedly left him on the bench in favour of misfiring Fernando Torres.
It is well documented that AVB had lost the dressing room — particularly veterans like Frank Lampard, 33, and 34-year-old Drogba — as he attempted to bring about swift change at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba has decided to leave Chelsea after scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
The striker’s revelation of his exchange with AVB shows the extent to which Chelsea players stood up to their ex-manager.
Drogba told the Portuguese chief to his face that his methods had divided the team.
A few months later, amid poor results, AVB was axed and Roberto Di Matteo took over — and the rest is history.
The Italian restored the club’s disgruntled old guard, Chelsea somehow managed to overturn a 3-1 deficit to beat Napoli and they also found a way past Benfica before upsetting holders Barcelona in the Champions League semis.
In today’s France Football, Drogba said: “We went through against Barca even though we are a lot less strong than we were in 2009.
“Football is funny. I remember in November Villas-Boas had told me we would win the Champions League.
“I responded ‘Are you dreaming or what? We’ve lost all our values. There’s no more team. It’s impossible’.
“Finally the return of the old players, with Lampard and me, did the team good.”
Drogba scored in the 2-1 FA Cup final win over Liverpool and put their triumph down to the fact normality had returned to the Chelsea dressing room under former Blues midfielder RDM.
He said: “Eight goals in eight games at Wembley and a fourth Cup, too. How can you not adore this venue? I will have to return on pilgrimage when I am retired.
“The other players also allowed us older ones — John Terry, Frank, Paulo Ferreira and me — to go and get the trophy. It was symbolic.
“When the house was a bit burnt in the previous months, we always defended the club’s culture and identity. The party was huge in the dressing room.”
Drogba revealed he had taken his decision to quit Chelsea several weeks ago as he wrote in his diary for the French magazine, which recounted his last three weeks at Chelsea.
Though he stopped short of confirming that Nicolas Anelka’s Shanghai Shenhua will be his next club, Drogba hinted that his former Chelsea pal had tried to throw the Press off the scent in an interview earlier this month.
In his entry for Sunday May 6, Drogba wrote: “I saw that Nico was saying I would not be going to join him in Shanghai. Really?
“And yet when I spoke to him on the phone a few days earlier, I did not have the impression I had told him that.
“He had explained how it was going for him down there and also how it had gone with the manager, Jean Tigana.
“He also spoke in detail about what he wanted to do so I said ‘And when exactly do I come join you in China?’ He replied ‘Whenever you want, you know that’.
“What he knows, above all, is that I don’t want to hear talk about my future before the end of the season. There are those who say a lot and those who respect it a bit less.”
That same day, Drogba revealed he had asked for a final meeting with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Drogba also ruled out a move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or AC Milan and insisted that after Chelsea he would seek a new adventure. SunSport understands there is an offer from the MLS but Anelka’s Shanghai appear overwhelming favourites.
He added: “I have also asked for a meeting with Abramovich in the next few days.
“We will see each other to talk of the rain, sunshine and maybe Chelsea. He knows the club have not yet offered what I really want.
“Nevertheless, I still need top level — it’s what makes me tick.
“But if I have to leave, it will be for a new adventure, totally different to the big leagues.
“Firstly, it’s out of the question to play in England for anyone but Chelsea. Secondly, I don’t really know what more I could look for in Spain, Italy or Germany.
“I don’t need another ordinary adventure elsewhere. I am more attracted by a new life.”
In his next entry on May 12, Drogba’s mind appeared made up — he would quit Chelsea.
He said: “It’s my last match at Stamford Bridge against Blackburn.
“The closer it gets to the end, the more I realise it’s very difficult to live through this countdown. You can’t wipe out eight years of being here like that, particularly for an emotional guy like me.
“In that match I only play half an hour, replacing Romelu Lukaku. I would have liked to score but I admit that when I left the pitch at the end, I was deeply moved.”
Drogba also revealed Chelsea goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon had briefed the players on Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer’s tactics in a penalty shootout.
Lollichon had worked out that Neuer always dived to the left for right-footed players and to the right for left-footed players.
Drogba said: “Even before I struck the ball, I saw him move to the left. I knew it was won.”
Drogba’s team-mate Gary Cahill wants Chelsea to keep the hitman after his Euro heroics.
England defender Cahill, 26, said: “Didier, again, turned up — the big man for the big occasion.
“If you ask every player at the club, you’d hope he stays.
“It was just fitting he took the penalty that won us the cup — he got us back in the game late doors.”
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