drogba

Claude Makelele played all but the last two minutes and Didier Drogba had a fine game and several good efforts on goal.

Didier Drogba was also given a run-out, with his appearance off the bench suggesting his recovery from injury is going to plan.

'It's not easy to mark a player like Drogba, but we'll need to stay on top of him and mark him well.

Now Chelsea seem to have inherited the mantle of late demolition experts - with Drogba inheriting the title of executioner in chief.

Mourinho explained why he made the decision to go with Drogba and Robben centrally ahead of a four-man midfield.

Chelsea continued to threaten, with Drogba looking lively up front, and a breakthrough looked increasingly likely.

Drogba hit the kind of form expected from Thierry Henry or Wayne Rooney as he became the heart and soul of Chelsea.

Drogba at Everton. It was a great goal. For me, it was the best. The shot, the curve that the ball makes, it was unbelievable.

At that moment Drogba clearly pulled me down with his hands. I think it should have been a penalty kick for us.

Didier Drogba remains out for the visitors with concussion while Michael Essien is not expected to return from a knee injury until February.

Didier Drogba was part of a high scoring Ivory Coast victory but did not find the net.

Drogba has played his last game for the club and it would be easy to blame him, but this is counter-productive.

Drogba, never short of a word, was understandably pleased at netting the winner and hinted it was the most important goal of his career.

Drogba saw the trouble coming and tried to calm things down, presumably in French to the referee, but the yellow card was no surprise.

Carvalho, for me, is now coming into the shortlist for Player of the Year to date alongside Drogba, Essien, Terry and Lampard.

And Drogba has expressed his liking for Anelka and feels that pairing up with him could fire Chelsea to glory this season.

Manchester City are trying to sign Didier Drogba from Chelsea, according to the Ivory Coast striker's agent.

Between them, just two managed to get on the scoresheet - Drogba and Ronaldo.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has welcomed the signing of Michael Essien, who he believes is one of the best midfielders in the World.

Drogba paid tribute to the medical team whosupervised his quick recovery. "By the grace of God, the impossible hashappened, " he said.

Walcott says he draws inspiration not just from his team-mates, but from opposing players, including Chelsea rival Didier Drogba.

Chelsea are always capable of scoring and, in my opinion, Didier Drogba is currently the best centre forward in Europe.

There was a question mark about the temperament of several players towards the end, while Drogba had a game which emphasised his dark side.

Then it dawned on me and I could no longer deny Drogba's qualities however much I wanted just to keep the banter alive.

Drogba has two years remaining on his current contract but insists a move for more money is not his top priority.

Didier Drogba is now rightly recognised as one of the best strikers in the world.

If Drogba goes down or Crespo goes down for a month or two then I'm there, I'm the back-up .

Let's hope that Chelsea win on Sunday and Drogba's name will be on the score sheet at least a couple of times!

Carvalho is back so at least we have one central defender and Drogba is back so we have one striker.

"The European Cup is a competition that makes me dream. It irritates me not to be there, " continued Drogba.

Two minutes later, Drogba wasted another good chance when he collected a corner at the far post only to send his effort high into the crowd.

The Arsenal boss tracked Drogba's development earlier in his career, but a firm deal never materialised.

Drogba trained with the team the past two days, wearing a protective cast as he worked on his ball skills and fitness.

didier drogba , you got us out of the smelly brown stuff so take a bow . . . again.

He was also involved in another contentious incident, as Drogba had penalty appeals for a nudge in the back.

I am joining with big names like Terry, Lampard, Drogba and Anelka and I can be part of this great team.

And Drogba is convinced that episode has not been forgotten by the Euro refs who handle Chelsea matches.

A sloppy pass by Porto went straight to Drogba but after stepping wide of the last defender, he blasted well off target.

They have been with me three years and what makes me happy is exactly the same that makes Lampard, JT , Drogba happy.

Firstly, it put Drogba under a great deal of pressure to perform.

But no one predicted Didier Drogba's reaction would be to make himself indispensable.

But as time goes on you learn. Drogba is only one player. Others make a team.

Chelsea's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, indicated last weekend that Drogba would be staying at the club.

Drogba couldn't play. It is a problem with his foot and he was feeling a lot of pain. At the moment I can't say why.

I, and not only I, started to see Drogba with his eyes.

"Maybe Drogba was offside, but it's very difficult to see this because there were a lot of people in the box, " said Ancelotti.

The attack started when Cole crossed from deep, Drogba at the far post headed back across the box to Shevchenko.

In an entertaining encounter, we came out 1-0 winners, with Didier Drogba firing home the winner from short range.

Thiago Motta's card was the same as that for Didier Drogba. Unfortunately Motta lost his cool for a second.

Jose Mourinho hopes Didier Drogba's decision to sign a new contract will put a stop to the rumours the striker could leave Chelsea.

I used to think that Drogba was a good footballer with way too much self-esteem.

As Drogba pointed out, it may be some time before there is a clear picture, or idea, of how this year's league will shape up .

With Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Wayne Bridge unsettled , the number of departures could reach double figures.

Drogba beat three defenders before sliding the ball past Valerio Fiori after 64 minutes.

Chelsea begin a busy period with a clash against Arsenal, and Drogba is hoping to keep the pressure on their London rivals.

England captain Rio Ferdinand is out after injuring ligaments in his left knee during practice hours before Drogba was hurt.

Drogba was Chelsea's hero at Goodison Park as his late stunner claimed the points and he feels the momentum is with Jose Mourinho's charges.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba insists team spirit is as strong as ever at Stamford Bridge, despite this week's defeat at Middlesbrough.

Didier Drogba: Showed some great touches, intelligent runs, strong tackles and good passes. Got us out of jail again - 8.

"I'm at the last big turning point of my career, " Drogba said.

GILBERTO SILVA has blasted Didier Drogba for claiming Arsenal are no longer title challengers.

Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho have finished their suspensions and Arjen Robben is back - so we have won back three important players.

Ivory Coast hitman Drogba has also hinted at leaving despite suggestions he could partner Shevchenko.

In the evening Drogba makes his live debut on Chelsea TV in the Weekend Review phone-in , and the Carling Cup is there too.

Drogba is given vital minutes rest before the end of the Blues' first four-goal haul at Upton Park and our biggest winning margin.

Riise thinks Didier Drogba is Chelsea's main danger-man but backed Liverpool's strikers to pose an equal threat at the opposite end.

Chelsea star Didier Drogba has warned he will refuse to play through the pain barrier as he looks to shake off a troublesome knee injury.

In the second-half I felt it would be the first team to score that won the game and Drogba made the difference.

Drogba received his first red card in the Champions League in a previous encounter with Barcelona.

The first came when Shevchenko delivered a perfect ball but Drogba could only watch as the keeper held up an arm to deflect it.

african soccer better than drogba. at the 2006 world cup, his homeland ravaged by civil.

Some of English football's greatest strikers have heaped praise on Chelsea's star man Didier Drogba.

drogba , 27 , was born in the ivory coast but spent most of his childhood in france and has dual nationality.

Mourinho, though, added that any hope Didier Drogba has of leaving can be forgotten.

In the African Cup of Nations, Salomon Kalou will miss his club and country team mate, Didier Drogba, for Ivory Coast's meeting with Gabon.

Three minutes after the restart, Drogba deployed the element of surprise, shooting from a tight-angle when most expected a cross.

Carles Puyol has accused Chelsea striker Didier Drogba of diving to try and get Barcelona players booked.

In fact, Drogba was injured in a friendly match with Japan (fractured ulna in right arm) and he recovered in just 11 days.

And now, rumour has it, Chelsea hero Didier Drogba is on the verge of following his old team-mate to China for an even bigger sum.

Didier Drogba says Chelsea are paying in Europe for the Anders Frisk affair.

Villas Boas kept Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka on the bench, using two wide players either side of Fernando Torres.

Another Chelsea player who will be wearing a captain's armband in Germany will be Didier Drogba, chosen on Monday in the Ivory Coast squad.

My being named by the UN, alongside great players like Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, will hopefully help me show the real Didier Drogba.

"For a month I've trained with pain in my right knee, " Drogba told French magazine Sport.

LONDON - Dider Drogba has been praising Milan but is satisfied to stay at Chelsea: 'The Rossoneri are really a great side.

Drogba was given a hero's welcome by New Forces general secretary and new Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro.

Goals from Geremi and Didier Drogba helped Chelsea to their fifth win in a row as they beat Sunderland 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

We have Cole, Diarra, Drogba and Essien as well as Robben one booking off a suspension. They have only Angulo under the same threat.

Drogba's ill-timed words last week will still be resonating when Chelsea return to the Champions League, against Schalke 04 tomorrow.

These are not the familiar surroundings of a millionaire footballer. Drogba, though, could not be more proud.

Aulas in Lyon loves us as he can skin alive us on great transfer sums as he did with Drogba, Malouda and Essien.

But we have other players in the team we cannot touch - Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Didier Drogba.

Didier Drogba was delighted with his hat-trick but played down the achievement following Chelsea's 3-1 win over Levski Sofia.

Cole, Terry and Drogba may be fine players but they are unlikely to win many popularity contests.

It was the perfect start for Mourinho's side and they took the lead in the 50th minute through Drogba.

Drogba has something in his ankle but nothing serious and normally he is ready for Sunday.

Didier Drogba feels Chelsea have got Manchester United running scared in the title race.

This year, two Africans have the chance to follow in Mister George's footsteps: Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o and Ivory Coast striker Drogba.

Drogba, Liverpool. Backing in, his left and - ya! !

Drogba is physically strong with outstanding shooting ability. He has won two Premiership titles.

Arsene Wenger revealed yesterday that prolific Chelsea goal scorer Didier Drogba was once a prime target for Arsenal.

Absolutely no help to the referee, and one decision against Drogba in the first half where he called an offside was laughable.

"I get on well with Michael, and spoke to him regularly on the phone recently, " said Drogba.

The supply lines to Drogba and Anelka were poor, and there were few chances.

It is a natural evolution of a striker coming from many years playing different football. I think he will be the same as Didier Drogba.

Everyone knows I prefer players like Paulo Ferreira or Didier Drogba.

Drogba nods and pumps his arms like a runner.

glass called the drogba. it's nearly twice the size of a normal mug.

Drogba has scored 30 goals for Chelsea this season - including a double against Arsenal in the Carling Cup final.

All the players says, 'Hi' and Drogba hands the phone to Terry.

I would have bet anything that Drogba continued with us. He's not going to find a better club in Italy or in Spain and he knows it.

After all, while they struggle to deal with life after Drogba, he is playing two of the most important games of Arsenal's season.

Drogba, without surprise, gave Chelsea the lead.

Drogba - His golden boot speaks for itself and in my opinion was last years best player in the Premier League.

They didn't defend their title either, so I think Drogba is talking a little bit too much.

Drogba probably acquired some level of immunity during his childhood in Ivory Coast.

I thought Joe Cole and Frank Lampard were very good driving them forward and Didier Drogba worked hard for them up front.

Drogba scored in the 51st minute, with Robben shown the red card 11 minutes later. Mourinho reacted by sarcastically applauding .

Perhaps Didier Drogba can play for England after five years.

"Why not, " Frelot said in the Daily Mirror when asked about the possibility of Drogba moving to the Bernabeu.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was fourth with 108 points, and Italy and Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo finished fifth with 41.

While agreeing with the view that his team-mate has started the season well, Drogba insisted there is more to come.

But when the mudslingers in the press put Drogba's name to it, just too many are willing to believe it and hold it against him.

The Rossoneri would be getting two goals with one stroke: to get Drogba and not letting Eto'o go to Inter.

Didier Drogba has again insisted he is more than happy to stay at Chelsea.

Operation "The operation looks like it went well. Drogba is in good shape and we want to keep him like that. "

This is the story about how Drogba become a world class forward, and also Its a story about love and sacrifice.

Drogba, 29, said: "What people call a miracle will still take place. "

I know Eidur Gudjohnsen's link-up play is perhaps better, but I do think Drogba is the preferred choice.

Drogba epitomises what a professional should be.

Drogba added: "After signing the new contract I told myself this is the time to work hard. "

Lampard is a specialist in insulting people very badly but Drogba doesn't say a word.

There are reports in Italy that Chelsea star Didier Drogba has told teammates that he will be joining Inter in the summer.

'I am not playing well just because I wanted to sign a new contract, ' Drogba told Chelsea TV immediately after signing.

In the Ivory Coast, Drogba is a hero.

Drogba was Blues' top scorer last term with 33 goals.

Ivory Coast win 3-0 in Madagascar with Kalou setting up two goals and Drogba one.

Geremi supplied a low cross, Drogba, battling hard, diverted the ball back but Essien from ten years out blasted over.

DIDIER DROGBA insists he can fire Chelsea to all FOUR trophies this season.

The strongest striker taking part in South Africa, Drogba will cause defenders untold trouble.

It's alright Drogba kicking off afterwards but didn't he have a gilt-edged opportunity to make it 2 - 0?

But how do you explain Drogba's failure to sustain his magnificent early form?

'Drogba's power and personality is very important for this team. It is good he has come back fit and dangerous. '

Chelsea substitution Joe Cole to give Drogba a well-earned rest. It becomes 4-3-3.

When you play with Drogba, you often have to settle for a position of second forward. Does this bother you?

I think we'll take Villa to the cleaners, 3-1, Shevchenko, Drogba and Carvalho for us, and Angel to steal one for them.

He's a complete striker because he can play alone in attack or behind Drogba. He is a complete player.

Its habitual 4-3-3 will shift to 4-4-1-1 against Brazil and Portugal, but without a natural playmaker, it relies on Drogba at the tip.

Drogba said: "I am happy the club kept their word, including the manager. We can have a star- studded team and still give talent respect. "

Abused Drogba, just inside the Liverpool half, is clattered from behind by Agger who is booked.

Last year we played with Drogba and Anelka, people were surprised they could play together, we had just one striker with two in the hole.

'Didier Drogba struggled last year and this year he's been fantastic.

Boise alone now has more Drogba and [Aruna] Dindane fans just because of my brother and me.

Boise alone now has more Drogba and Dindane fans just because of my brother and me.

Invest now or you'll lose me, warns Drogba Irish Examiner