Didier Drogba launched a scathing attack on Chelsea’s owners on Tuesday night as his former club crashed out of the Champions League.
After his address to the players after the weekend loss to Brighton, Chelsea’s co-controlling owner Todd Boehly – who assumed control last year – went back into the home dressing room following the 2-0 loss to Real Madrid courtesy of Rodrygo’s second half brace.
And Blues legend Drogba, who played such a key role in former owner Roman Abramovich’s golden era, fired a verbal assault at the new regime following a result that effectively means the Blues will not play Champions League football next season.
‘I knew this club with a certain class during the Abramovich era, but today I find it lacking. It’s very hard for me to see how they got rid of certain people,’ said the Ivorian.
‘They should go back to the principles and values they had.
Didier Drogba (left) launched a scathing attack on Chelsea’s owners after their European exit
The former Chelsea striker said decisions made under Roman Abramovich were ‘intelligent’
Drogba said he no longer recognised the club he served over two spells between 2004 and 2015
‘I don’t recognise my club. It’s no longer the same club, There is a new owner and a new vision.
‘Of course, we try to compare it with what happened during the (Roman) Abramovich era where a lot of players were brought in, but the decisions were very intelligent.
‘Bringing in players like Petr Cech, Andriy Shevchenko, Hernan Crespo, Micheal Essien, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, and I go on. It was done to win titles.
‘They are players with a certain experience. The strategy is now different; we bet on young players. But a dressing room of over 30 players is difficult [to manage] for a manager.
He accepted that the club have a new policy of bringing in young players but that the squad lacks charismatic leaders
The club look a far cry from the days of the likes of Frank Lampard, Drogba and other heroes
‘They lack charismatic leaders. You need players that take on the game, that assume their responsibilities. You need a player that brings a bit of madness to the stadium.’
Despite their elimination, interim head coach Frank Lampard insisted the club will recover from their latest set-back which leaves them with very little to play for until the end of the season.
‘The motivation has be playing for Chelsea, we have to be competitive in everything we do every day,’ said Lampard.
‘People make a lot of this season because we have had so much success – but the reality is we will be back. It will take work and a bit of process.’
source: dailymail.co.uk
