Chelsea interim manager Roberto di Matteo has expressed his confidence that star striker Didier Drogba will be fit for the crucial second leg encounter with Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Drogba scored the only goal of the game in the first leg encounter between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge.
The goal that came in the injury time a first half has provided Chelsea with a lead to protect when they go to the Camp Nou. Chelsea played a very defensive formation at Stamford Bridge, and Drogba also helped out in defence. However, he was absent for the match against Arsenal during the weekend after picking up a knock in the Barcelona match.
Yet, Roberto di Matteo has said that Chelsea should expect to have Drogba back in the side when they take on Barcelona in the second leg. It is going to be extremely tough for Chelsea to get into the final of the Champions League, but they have definitely given them a chance with the Drogba goal. If Chelsea to go through to the final beating Barcelona, then it would be one of the biggest achievements of the club in recent seasons because many adjudge Barcelona to be the best team in the world.
“At this moment of time, I don’t know. We’ll have to assess the players over the course of the weekend. He has an injury on his knee, which is why he did not play here, so it’s whether the progression on this injury will be quick enough for him to feature,” said Roberto di Matteo after the 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Theo Walcott managed to rupture his hamstring in the match, which is likely to rule him out of the Euro 2012. Arsene Wenger expressed his disappointment after losing the 23-year-old star for the rest of the season.
Didier Drogba has said that he would relish the prospect of being reunited with former Chelsea manager José Mourinho at Stamford Bridge once again.
José Mourinho is being linked with a return to Chelsea in the summer after having fallen out with a number of people in Spain, while it is also quite clear that the media do not always think of José Mourinho in the same way as the English media. To add to the rumours, José Mourinho was recently spotted in London apparently in the search of a home near Chelsea. Chelsea have appointed assistant manager Roberto di Matteo incharge of the team till the end of the season.
It conveniently provides them with the opportunity to get their most successful manager in history of the club in the summer. Didier Drogba recently scored his 100th Premier league goal in the match against Stoke City. It was the only goal of the game and it was vital because it helped Chelsea stay in touch with the other clubs chasing the top four position. Chelsea are currently the fifth position in the table, which would guarantee them only Europa league football next season. Even though José Mourinho recently committed his future to Real Madrid, the odds of him being the Chelsea manager next season have been shortened severely.
“I think there’s a lot of speculation. Him, (Rafa) Benitez, all these managers. It would be nice, it would be fun for the story. Let’s see what happens. It’s all speculation at the moment. Obviously [Mourinho] was a fantastic manager and a very good man manager as well,” Didier Drogba said in an interview given to Sky Sports after the 1-0 win over Stoke City. Despite turning 34 years old, Didier Drogba is still managing to play at the top level.
Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has said that current Chelsea star Didier Drogba could be the next high-profile player to join him at his current club in China.
Nicolas Anelka moved to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in the January transfer window after signing a bumper contract worth around £ 230,000 per week. This currently makes Nicolas Anelka one of the highest-paid players in the world right now. It is thought that the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua are also currently interested in bringing Didier Drogba over the summer transfer window. The Ivorian will be out of contract in the summer and is now free to negotiate terms with interested clubs.
It is thought that Shanghai Shenhua would be willing to pay around £ 400,000 per week for Didier Drogba if he decides to move to China. The big Ivorian is also aware of the interest from the MLS clubs as well. If Didier Drogba moves to China, then it will be purely financial basis whereas the United States will be offering a slightly better standard of football. Chelsea are offering Didier Drogba only a one-year extension to his current contract, whereas the striker is demanding a two-year contract. Shanghai Shenhua are prepared to offer a three-year deal for Didier Drogba.
“Yes, I often contact him. If all goes well, he should be able to come to Shanghai. Of course, if he can, which does not depend on me, but is to be determined by the club owners and investors,” Nicolas Anelka said in the interview at his unveiling. In order to benefit the future of Fernando Torres, there seems that the suggestions around the Chelsea camp that they would be willing to let Didier Drogba move to any other club he wishes in the summer, thus bringing an end to the eight-year stay with the club.
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May 4, 2012 7:22 am | 
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