Drogba: My hardest season at Chelsea

Didier Drogba has labelled the 2011/12 season his hardest so far in eight years at English Premier League club Chelsea.

Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League table, 17 points adrift of top spot.

They have been inconsistent under new coach Andre Villas-Boas, and played out a frustrating 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

“It is the hardest season I’ve known here,” Drogba said.

“The players and fans are used to being in the first two or three but this is different.”

“You know how it is when you come with a lot of ambition and it doesn’t go the way you want, it’s difficult.”

The pressure has been mounting on Villas-Boas, who arrived from Porto in the off season, but Drogba was quick to support his manager.

“It’s not easy for him (Villas-Boas), but he’s not the only one who is responsible, we all are,” Drogba said.