What do you think of Didier Drogba?

One of the greatest players ever to grace the country we call the United Kingdom or the biggest footballing cheat in Premier League history? The player is a bit like Marmite with most people, except the bit about loving him.

There’s no surer way to wind up a set of opposition fans than collapsing in a heap at the merest hint of contact from a defender, especially if it curries favour with the referee.

'Mourinho’s departure caused untold anguish for his favourite player'


Nevertheless, Deputy Drog has been central to Chelsea’s success in the past few seasons, helping himself to 33 goals last season, including the extra-time winner against Manchester United in the FA Cup final and a brace to see off Arsenal in the Carling Cup equivalent. He repeated this feat against the Gunners back in March, which kick-started the Blues’ title challenge and saw them breathe down the neck of the Red Devils all the way to the line.

Provided he’s declared fit by the Chelsea medical staff (and not just his own self-diagnosis), it would be no surprise to see Drogba steal in front of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic next Wednesday and land the Champions League for his club.

This has become something of a holy grail for the west London club and at least part of the reason why Jose Mourinho was politely asked to get his expensive coat and never darken the Stamford Bridge corridors again.

Talking of the Portuguese manager, who runs Drogba close in the ‘Biggest Mouth in European Football’ awards, ever since the Special One left, it’s clear that the striker has talked about leaving Chelsea – will Moscow on Wednesday night be the last time that blue is the colour for him? It is clear that the pair had a very special relationship and Mourinho’s departure caused untold anguish for his favourite player.

"When I held Mourinho in my arms I couldn't hold back my tears - it was too much.

"If I had left mid-season it would have been for a club aiming for the top prize in continental football - and that meant I would not have been able to line up for Chelsea in the Champions League.

"It was a terrible dilemma. But I was ready not to play - I was feeling stubborn."

Excellent work, Didier. While nurses and teachers are working long shifts for meagre pay, in your own little world of being a millionaire footballer, you’re mulling over whether to continue playing for your employers because they’ve decided to replace your line manager with somebody capable of beating Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final.

Indeed, Drogba was long out his sulk (maybe he should assume Nicolas Anelka’s tag?) by the time Chelsea were a step away from Moscow, and subsequently showed what he’s good at by helping the Blues to make the Champions League final.

Let’s hope that’s not the end of the scoring, diving and bleating or the Premier League will be even more boring than Kevin Keegan recently surmised.