I know it’s a bit of an about-turn for TheChelseaBlog to be singing Didier Drogba’s praises so often in a season but then it’s been a bit of an about-turn from the Ivorian this season as well.

Not since the days of Gianfranco Zola have I used the word ‘phenomenal’ so much for one player in a season ( not that I’m comparing the players here, just the vocabulary), but what else can you say about Drogba this season? He’s been outstanding and I know I’m not alone in dreading his departure for ACON duty.

Even Didier Drogba himself seems almost reluctant to tear himself away from his club, stating “It’s going to be difficult to leave. Chelsea are paying my wages – and to go for a month, it’s tough.  But I think they understand we players have no choice. We have to go because we have to represent our countries.”

And the potential silver lining in this particular cloud is that with our Ivorian striker keen to hang on at Chelsea until the last possible minute, if he can get the Ivory Coast to agree, Drogba is willing to miss some of the pre-tournament training. For us, that would mean him being around for the game against Fulham on December 28^th or even stretching it out until the FA Cup game against Watford on January 3^rd.

Fingers crossed?

Filed under: Current Players, Rumours