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Thanks for the Memories, Didier
Drogba leaves Chelsea for Shanghai
This week Didier Drogba made it official that he’s joining Shanghai Shenhua, where he’ll presumably finish out his remarkable playing career. He first announced his Chelsea departure the week after the team’s amazing Champions League Final victory in which he scored the winning PK. If he was going to leave Chelsea, it was understandably an ideal time to depart – going out on top as the hero (not only in the Final, but in several other crucial moments of the season).
If Chelsea hadn’t won the Champions League this year, perhaps Drogba would’ve pushed harder to strike a new deal with the club. But since they won, he’s moving on to a new challenge. I’m not sure what he finds appealing about Chinese soccer though. If he was going to leave Chelsea, I wish he’d chosen MLS.
Drogba has been one of my favorite Chelsea players, but it’s hard to be bitter about his departure. He seemed genuinely torn up about leaving. Plus, in today’s transfer happy world, he stayed at Stamford Bridge longer (2004-2012) than a lot of players do at any club.
Chelsea will seem a bit strange for me without Drogba because he was a major reason I became a Blues fan in the first place. He, along with Michael Essien and Michael Ballack, first really caught my eye during the 2006 World Cup. Since all three of them played for Chelsea at the time, I quickly became partial to the Blues.
Drogba is a Chelsea legend. It won’t be the same to tune in Saturdays and not see him in blue, muscling his way around the box, rifling shots from crazy angles. But it sure was fun while it lasted!
What are your favorite Drogba moments as a Chelsea player?
Chelsea’s Champions League Week
Blues wrap up EPL season with win, now focused on Champions League Final
Another Premier League season came to a rousing close on Sunday. Though I can’t stand either of the Manchester teams, I was glad to see Man City snatch the title from Man U at the last second. It was the lesser of two evils I suppose.
On the relegation side of things, I was disappointed to see Bolton go down instead of QPR. I don’t like QPR – too many thugs. I do like Bolton coach Owen Coyle though and never expected them to be relegated this season.
As for Chelsea, their 2-1 win over Blackburn on Sunday was devoid of any suspense since Chelsea had completely tanked against Liverpool the previous Wednesday (losing 4-1). It was quite a bizarre defeat on the heels of beating Liverpool just three days earlier in the FA Cup Final! It was such a frustrating loss, I couldn’t bear to blog about it until now.
I’m not sure how Chelsea was so bad in the Liverpool loss, particularly since it was their last chance to possibly salvage a top four finish and ensure Champions League play next season. I really wanted to see them have that insurance just in case things go poorly in the Champions League Final in Munich this Saturday. Now there is added pressure because if they don’t beat Bayern Munich in the Final, Chelsea will suffer a yearlong Champions League drought. Not cool.
Chelsea previewed their new kit Sunday against Blackburn (see below). I like the classy, simple design. I was iffy about the gold lettering/stripes at first, but I think it’s going to work.
Conspicuously missing from the club’s ad campaign for the new Adidas kit is Didier Drogba. I hope his absence doesn’t mean he already has a foot out the door. If he does, everyone is keeping their lips impressively sealed.
When Di Matteo put Drogba in the game in the second half against Blackburn, the moment, and the crowd’s reaction, had a farewell vibe to it. Drogba has always been one of my favorite Chelsea players. I really hope he has a huge Champions League Final that will help motivate him to stay with Chelsea a couple more seasons.
This week is all about Champions League Final prep for Chelsea. Cahill and Luiz apparently trained with the team today, so hopefully they’ll be fit by Saturday. With all of Chelsea’s injuries and suspensions, I’m not feeling particularly confident at the moment. I’ll have to remind myself for the rest of the week that they got past Barcelona, so anything’s possible on Saturday, right?
What do you think of the new Chelsea kit? Do you think Drogba will be at Chelsea next season? Feel free to weigh in below…