Drogba vows to leave 'broken' Chelsea as soon as possible

Didier Drogba has confirmed he will follow Jose Mourinho in leaving Chelsea. The striker claims the club have been "broken" by the manager's departure.

"My decision is taken," Drogba said. "Nothing could keep me here now. I know there's talk of Ronaldinho and Kaka coming here next season but that won't change my mind. I won't go back on this decision. No doubt because there's something broken with Chelsea."

Drogba was quick to blame Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, for both Mourinho's exit and his own impending one. "We all feel that the shared story ended too quickly ... we are left with a feeling of incompleteness and impotence," said the 29-year-old. "Everything was halted at the whim of the president. We are mere employees. I don't hide the fact that I took the whole episode very badly. I can only say that I was unpleasantly surprised by some people."

Despite his comments, Chelsea feel sure the striker will stay. In an official statement the club said: "Didier Drogba signed a new four-year contract last year. As a top professional we are sure Didier is committed to Chelsea and intends to honour that contract." But in an interview with today's France Football magazine the Ivorian says he now plans to join a top club in either Italy or Spain and he names Milan, Inter, Barcelona and Real Madrid as the only four he would consider.

"I have to get a change of scenery. It took me some time to fall in love with Chelsea but now I believe it's time to move on to something else. I need a club with whom I'd be ready to break my leg to win. I want to get back to playing with butterflies in my stomach for a club who make me dream. For me, there aren't 50 clubs who could stimulate this sort of passion, just four: AC Milan, Inter, Barça and Real."

Drogba was said to be in tears after Mourinho told him he was leaving. Describing the manager's parting words Drogba said: "Then he said 'I wish good luck to you and your families and I thank you all. Even those who betrayed me'."

The striker's hurt has now developed into full-blown fury with the club's hierachy and Abramovich in particular. He told France Football that he had never felt fully comfortable at Chelsea. He said: "I've always had a bizarre relationship with Chelsea. On the very first day I wanted to leave. It was the same every summer too. But despite that I stayed for four seasons, the best of my career."

Guardian.co.uk

As much as I'd like to see him in Milan shirt, I think hel'l end up in Spain.

drogba has already been seen numerous times in milan visiting his girlfriend. i can easily see him coming to milan.

It's an accurate translation.

One thing that may just be in Milan's favor is that Drogba is apparently dating a Milan-based model.

It all hinges on Gila's form and R99's fitness. If Milan decide that one of the two is not satisfactory, Inter can try all they want, he comes to the red side.

It all hinges on Gila's form and R99's fitness. If Milan decide that one of the two is not satisfactory, Inter can try all they want, he comes to the red side.

I don't like to say this, but another long term injury for Ronaldo or Inzaghi could be a blessing in disguise and would make our management sign Drogba...

I have a gut feeling that Drogba prefers Milan over the Merda too. I think it all goes back to last...August?...or so, when there was a lot of speculation about him then -- he was apparently visiting his girl and took her to dinner at Kaladze's restaurant and ended up hanging out with Maldini et al. So at least he moves in the right circles.

Who do you think his girl is?

*runs*

Ronaldo getting injured will only increase our problems because getting Drogba won't be a solution to losing Ronnie because they are different types of strikers, that would probably work great together but they cannot replace each other

It was in a really gossipy newspaper/magazine article. I remember it quite clearly. I fully admit that I like reading Chi now and then (Chi is an Italian gossip magazine somewhat similar to Hello! in the UK or People in the US). There are pictures of Cute Footballers At The Beach sometimes too.

Drogue Ba and get Drogba!

Honestly I don't think that's correct. I'm not saying their style of play is exactly the same, no. I say Gilardino is the type of player who performs well when he plays alongside a supporting striker; Drogba is both an in-box and supporting striker, he is a complete striker in every aspect IMO. all we needed in the past five games (before Lazio) was someone who can put the damn ball into the back of the net. Gila and Pippo, for some reasons, either didn't get enough balls to to so, or couldn't do that simple tap when they were in front of an empty net. why? I think they need a supporting striker, especially Gilardino. his performance clearly improves when he's being played with Ronaldo. if we accept that Drobga is a SS, we should also accept that he is exactly what we need right now.

Can I ask something... you have learned Italian yourself or you were born Italian-American?! (I know all the Italians are in NY and you're from DC but...)

Can I ask something... you have learned Italian yourself or you were born Italian-American?! (I know all the Italians are in NY and you're from DC but...)

Drogba is not exactly like Pippo and Gila but he is far from being a supporting striker ala Ronaldo. He cannot run at speed at defenders and be creative enough to make a great pass to someone like Gila, Ronaldo can do that.

Drogba is more like Toni, he can play outside the box, hold off players with his strength and turn them, and score the spectacular goal. And can also score from outside the box, but he is still far from a supporting striker. And would be a better replacement for a player like Gila rather then Ronaldo

Man... I wish I knew Italian.   

Can I ask something... you have learned Italian yourself or you were born Italian-American?! (I know all the Italians are in NY and you're from DC but...)
GREAT!

What about playing Drobga as a lone striker. wouldn't he still be able to save us from scoring crisis? I think he would.

THEORETICALLY he ought to work as sole striker, with a pure attacking mid (and we've got the best) behind him.

My grandparents are from Calabria, the southern part of Italy where Gattuso is from. And they did emigrate to NY originally (I've even got copies of their Ellis Island records) but moved out west as Grandpa worked for the railroad. I actually grew up in the Rockies.

After the last match, I'm gonna put that scoring crisis thing on a hold. Until we lose 1-0 to Empoli that is.

But anyway back to your point, it's tough to say. On paper we could say, he's exactly what we want and that he will suceed. But then Sheva we all know is 10 times the player Drogba is. Yet Sheva failed in the EPL while Drogba suceeded.

And I don't remember Drogba ever playing as a second striker. He's a target man pure and simple. So yes, THEORETICALLY he ought to work as sole striker, with a pure attacking mid (and we've got the best) behind him.

LONDON (AP) - Didier Drogba is "100 percent" committed to Chelsea - for this season, anyway.

The Blues striker said he regretted making comments about the recent departure of manager Jose Mourinho, but stopped short of apologizing and said he would discuss his future with the club at the end of the season.

"On reflection, I regret making the comments I made in a recent interview public at this time," Drogba said in a statement on Chelsea's Web site Friday. "I am a Chelsea player and will be 100 percent committed and supportive to my manager, my teammates and the club.

"I will not be discussing my future any further until I meet privately with the club at the end of the season."

On Thursday, excerpts from a France Football interview were released which quoted Drogba as saying "something is broken" at Chelsea and that he wanted to leave.

Chelsea stopped short of denying Drogba had made the comments, but said it expected him to honor the four-year contract he signed last year.

Drogba, who joined Chelsea from Marseille three years ago, scored 33 goals last season in all competitions.

Mourinho, who guided Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, left the club on Sept. 19 and was replaced by Avram Grant.

"We (the players) all feel that the story ended too quickly. It leaves us with a feeling of something unfinished, and also of powerlessness," Drogba was quoted as saying in France Football. "We are only employees. I will not hide that I have taken this episode very badly."

Drogba said he was "unpleasantly surprised by some people." He did not elaborate.

Drogba added that he would be tempted by a move to AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Marseille.       

Just a thought ... With Drogba going all out to defend Mourinho .. I think it is highly likely that he will follow him where he goes in the summer. Which is unlikely to be Milan.

So if that is the case, Drogba wont play for Milan.