Goodbye Drogba

DIDIER DROGBA has told team-mates he is leaving Chelsea.

The Champions League final hero admits he is not prepared to spend time on the bench.

An emotional Drogba, 34, burst into tears when he informed his pals of his decision during the club's open-top bus parade yesterday.

The out of contract Ivory Coast star told France Football Magazine: "We will no longer be together next season.

“As I decided to leave, I wanted to tell them straight in the eye.

“Except that I could not do it. They made me crack.

“Even though it’s been three years since I said I wanted to leave, I find it hard to admit that it’s over with this club — especially as I did not feel like this.

“But I could not see myself sitting on the bench to watch others play when the club plans to set up a new team."

Drogba, who has been linked with a move to join old strike partner Nicolas Anelka at Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, added: “So that’s it — I am preparing for my leap into the unknown.

"It’s going to be another adventure.”

image: DidierDrogba1_1512455a

Discuss.
Comments
49
His fame and glory was too much for him, too ego now
welcome to juventus
Getting moar money yes
big change for torres next season
He should play imo. Torres is shit. And under vilas boas everyone was shit so not sure why he doesn't deserve another chance? :/ He is their best (and only good one) forward.
he is old, Chelsea have become quite Milan like by holding onto all their 32+ players at the same time - this is generally not good.
Parent
True but he is saying he will leave because he won't get much playing time so that's why I said he should be the main striker. If he played every time most likely he would stay. I reckon he still got 2 years in him. That said, there isn't a better way to quit after being the hero in the CL final and winning it for the first time for your club. Can't beat that really.

Oldies like maloudo should certainly leave. Drogba _could_ have stayed for a few more years in my opinion but ok, maybe time to rebuild. Not sure torres would want to stay more years on the bench so yea, maybe it's better to leave.
Parent
tbh he is 34, name me any strikers who played consistently on a high level at that age? Shearer managged it but was only playing league games and quite a limited amount, drogba cant handle that many minutes as he has more chance of injuries and it stops other younger and better (potential & consistency) players to step in. Sturridge would play better over 38 games then Drogba would next season and would be better off for it, even if I think they will likely try to buy another guy.

tbh I would have taken the deal, Chelsea play like 50+ games a year he would have featured I am sure.
Parent
Inzaghi always did his job at Milan and Klose is almost 34 and when he's not injured he still plays consistently. Those are all exceptions to the rule, of course.
Parent
Inzaghi started being a bit of a super sub though, but I agree - he did have something special but his play style was burst as he just beat the offside trap all the time :D
Parent
Henrik Larsson
Parent
same age as drogba is now where he had his last 'big season' and even then it was 42 games in all competitions (inc sub appearances)
Parent
He played in the 2008 Eurocup (age 37), and also had a brief period in Man U '09 (age 38) - I would say he is one of the few I've seen in that age that still had the stamina and body to compete after he turned 34.
Parent
Sturridge is insanely good
Parent
My sarcasm detector is flipping!
Parent
Big change for Torres indeed when they exchange Falcoa for Torres :D!
Not going to happen
Parent
Welcome back to Marseille !!
Hate it when someone is called " hero " just bcoz he got a goal, its not like he was playing alone there
Actually Drogba is a hero :D , he helped end a civil war and is constantly using his money to open hospitals around the Ivory Coast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rw-cuoIrRo
Parent
Maybe, but I was refering to the media and what garin wrote
Parent
i lold a top comments
Parent
hes a hero in many other ways than the Champions League, just for his general attitude to football imo. Hes a fucking animal to watch play :D
Parent
His attitude towards football is poor. He's a fantastic player but he goes down more than a 1$ hooker. If he spent more time on his feet he would be loved by everyone
Parent
~most players at the top level go down when tackled badly, if you stay on your feet the referee wont notice and stop play. Its more logical/tactical to go down if you are tackled in a good position and, had you been a weaker person, wouldve gone down.

I'm not condoning diving at all, diving is going down when there is no provocation, which is cheating.
Parent
Messi always fights on, despite being a shorter, weaker player. Just sayin'
Parent
seen him fall like anyone else, jus' sayin
Parent
lets see if messi still fights on when he is 34
Parent
He'll play somewhere in Shanghai or Arabia. You heard it here first.
Parent
Quit at your' highest point!


= instant win
Drogba's performance:

50% play
50% "acting as if he's injured"

Every year he gains with age he loses 10% playtime and adds 10% "acting as if he's injured"

Better for chelsea
GO GET SOME MONEY NIGGA
i heard hes going to china
Same here, heard that a couple of days ago actually, even before the final.
Parent
noone is able too receive ball on his chest and shoot straight away with a volley like drogba, noone will be ever better at that than him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPJd7ED6YuU
Except for some other dude perhaps, whose name I don't remember...
Parent
Thought he would already leave a long time ago. Surprised it happened just now.
SSN reporting that these quotes are not genuine! But I still think he will leave
Cya @ Shanghai!

image: illK6U
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