Drogba suffering from first-season Blues
In an interview with French sports daily l'Equipe, a "homesick" Didier Drogba weighs up his first season at Premiership champions Chelsea. If the €40m frontman hopes to remain with the Blues next year, he has nevertheless refused to rule out a possible return to Marseille one day.
The Ivory Coast striker has experienced a mixed first season at Chelsea, winning both the Championship and League Cup, but missing out in the Champions League and suffering a hip injury which sidelined him for two months.
Drogba admits that his switch from France's Ligue 1 has been far from plain-sailing as he struggles to adapt to both the English game and the change in culture.
"I'm a bit homesick to be honest," he told l'Equipe on Wednesday. "Life in England is not straight forward. You need to put your back into it, which I have yet to do. You know, it's so different, and your morale can take a knock."
Asked to confirm whether or not he was unhappy at the London club, Drogba replied rather enigmatically. "Unhappy is not really the correct word," he declared. "Let's just say that I haven't exactly always been happy."
Despite the striker's relatively tame return of 16 goals in 41 games, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has kept confidence in the club's record signing. The player is both aware and grateful of the faith shown by his manager.
MOURINHO'S A DROG ADDICT
"The coach has total confidence in me, and he has shown that throughout the season. When I haven't been injured, I have always been in the starting line-up.
"Mourinho has always supported me," Drogba underlines. "He knows better than anyone what I can bring to the team. He knows that I have always given 100% to Chelsea. He is grateful for what I have done, I'm sure of it, and he knows also, I believe, that I will better next season once I have, at last, had a proper break."
The former Marseille hitman, who scored 31 goals in 55 appearances for the French club in 2003/4, could only take 12 days rest over the summer.
One reason Drogba gives for his apparent timidity in front of goal this term is the different role he has been asked to employ by his new club, particularly over the second half of the campaign.
"The plan was to just hit long-balls towards me, whereas I always prefer playing football, having the ball at my feet."
"I SACRIFICED MYSELF"
Drogba admits that this change in tactics had a lot to do with injuries suffered by the two wingers Arjen Robben and Damien Duff, as well as the two wing-backs Wayne Bridge and Paolo Ferreira, but claims that his role has been underestimated at the club.
"I made others like Frank [Lampard] and Joe [Cole] shine. I sacrificed myself for the interests of Chelsea," he claimed, before hastily adding, "But it's important to say that I regret nothing."
Drogba admits that he has yet to voice his concerns to manager Jose Mourinho, but underlines that "there will be quite frankly no problem. I have as much confidence in him as he has in me."
ADRIANO IN, DROGBA OUT?
If the papers are to be believed, Drogba will be on his way out of Stamford Bridge in a squad shake-up which will see Inter's Brazilian forward Adriano, who has recently insured his left foot for a staggering &euro15m, assume his mantle.
"Nobody's talked to me about these rumours," Drogba claims. "Like everybody, I read the papers and have learnt of Chelsea's supposed interest in Adriano. But I'd like to repeat that I'm at Chelsea, and I'll still be here in August.
"If Adriano or another big-name striker arrives, we'll see. We'll see, in particular, if he's ready to defend like a madman for the best of the team, like I have done this season. Honestly, I'd be pretty curious to see that. I don't fear anyone."
MARSEILLE MAN
That would seemingly rule out the return to France's Ligue 1 which the French press has been getting so excited about.
Pushed on whether or not a move back to Marseille was a possibility Drogba opened up about his love for the club, but reiterated his opinion that now is not the right time for a return.
"L'OM [Olympique Marseille] is in my heart. I said that when I left Marseille and I have not changed my opinion over the last months. I do not have to go into my love for the club.
"I am a champion in England and one day I want to be a champion in France, at l'OM of course.
"But I would only return to l'OM of the team was capable of playing for the title, and today, that is just not the case. With, or without me.
Drogba concluded by stating that "in my mind, there is no doubt that I will be at Chelsea next season."