Well, you know we’ve got a big game coming up, not because anyone’s necessarily focusing on that yet but because Drogba’s all over the back pages again. For a change its not the Ivorian himself mouthing off, but the opposition seeing if they can mess with his head, which, according to Rooney “seems as if its not quite there” at times. Not that Rooney hasn’t got a point of course, with Drogba’s lack of commitment shown in the press also reflected in many of his performances for Chelsea this season.

Vidic, on the other hand, has spotted something else – yep, we’re back to that ‘diving’ thing again! The defender has suggested “He can pretend he fell down to win a penalty, but referees know that. The Champions League final is a big game and I’m sure the ref will know his job.” Well, he will now anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending Drogba in anyway at all, we all know he dives but that’s the whole point – we all know it – it just gets a bit tedious when the opposition feel some compulsion to inform the press for days on end before a game, as if it’s some groundbreaking exclusive.

Why is it that every time we’ve got a big game, someone feels the need to bring this up as if it’s some sort of revelation? Well, apparently it’s just to make sure the refs are fully aware – as if they’re the only living things on the planet who hadn’t been made aware of it already. After all, it worked for Rafa didn’t it? Or maybe not, because we all saw the effect his week-long rant had on Drogba’s game. But maybe that’s it, with Vidic acknowledging “Sometimes he goes in very strong, and sometimes he pretends he is very weak, he plays with your mind and tries to make you think about the next tackle.” And with Rooney conceding “When he’s at his best, he’s an unbelievable player. He’s big, strong, he scores goals – left foot, right foot, headers – at times he is unplayable”, maybe it’s more about trying to unsettle a player they’ve got serious concerns about?

Well, whatever the reason for the same old dross being dished out to the rags yet again, I hope it produces exactly the same sort of backlash as it did in our last Champions League outing.

Filed under: Rants