End of an era for Chelsea and Didier Drogba

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba revealed yesterday that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires on July 1st.

The strikers future has been in doubt for along time but he has now confirmed that he will seek new pastures this summer.

Confirmation

He confirmed his exit by telling Chelsea’s official website: “ I wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving Chelsea,”

“ It has been a very difficult decision for me to make and I am very proud of what we have achieved but the time is right for a new challenge for me.

“ As a team we have accomplished so much and have won every single trophy possible. Saturday was a very special moment for everyone at the club and for all the fans, and I am very proud to have played my part in bringing many trophies to this club, which has been my home for the last eight years.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the club especially Roman and my team-mates, many of whom have become very close friends and will be my friends for life.

“I would also like to say a very special thank you to the Chelsea fans who have shown me so much love and support over the years. I wish the club all the best and continued success for the future – you will always be in my heart.”

Love

It’s obvious that Didier Drogba loves Chelsea. Footballers are often criticised for not caring about their clubs and just playing football for money. I don’t think you could ever accuse Didier Drogba of just playing football for the money.

He loves the game, there is no doubt about that. Drogba is a passionate person and is involved in lots of charity work. Playing the game has also allowed him to give something back to his home continent and country Ivory Coast.

Fitting

His final kick of a ball in a Chelsea shirt was the penalty to win the Blues the Champions League trophy on Saturday against Bayern Munich. It was definitely a fitting moment for such a good servant to Chelsea.

The moment almost summed up Drogba’s career in one kick, dramatic, passionate and outstanding. I don’t think he could have wished for a better way to end his Chelsea career.

Superb

In eight years at the club Didier Drogba has won everything there is to win at club level. When he arrived at Chelsea there were doubts over whether he could produce the same goal return in the Premier league as he did in the French Ligue One.

However, he swiftly dispelled those doubts with some big performances to inspire Chelsea to Premier League titles, FA Cup victories and the ultimate achievement in European football the Champions League trophy.

He has played a major part in Chelsea’s rise to the top of the European game. Even at 34 years of age on his day he is simply impossible for defenders to mark. His strength and power have the worlds best defenders struggling to stop him.

Controversy

He has brought controversy to the game with opponents claiming that he cheats and dives. However, his qualities definitely outweigh his faults. And it is unfair to single-out Drogba for accusations of diving when it has became rife in the game.

High

Didier Drogba obvious wanted to exit Chelsea on a high note and you can’t get much more of a high note than scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final. If he would have played on for another year at Chelsea his career probably wouldn’t have finished in such a dramatic way.

Challenge

The time was right for Didier Drogba to seek a new challenge. He has been at Chelsea along time and it seems like now is as good a time as any to leave the Blues. If reports are to be believed he is set for a move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, to link up with former-Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka.

Wherever Didier Drogba ends up this summer, love him or hate him he will always be a Chelsea and Premier League legend. I’m sure all Chelsea fans wish him well for the future. English football has lost one of it’s true characters and the Premier League will be poorer for his loss next season.

Is it the right decision for Didier Drogba to leave Chelsea this summer?