Chelsea look to sort out Drogba future
Didier Drogba
Chelsea plan to open talks with Didier Drogba’s representatives later this week to work out the chances of him remaining at Stamford Bridge.
Man-of-the-match in Saturday’s historic Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, Drogba has repeatedly avoided questions about his future.
It has been felt for quite a while now the 34-year-old is ready to take up a lucrative contract offer in China, in which case his very last kick for Chelsea would be the penalty that gave his side victory.
For their part, Chelsea have refused to offer the two-year contract Drogba was looking for.
But chairman Bruce Buck revealed chief executive Ron Gourlay intends to find out exactly what the position is.
“Didier is a big-match player and he did it once again,” Buck told Sky Sports News.
“Ron Gourlay is going to sit down with his agent this week and we’ll see where it goes.
“We have to do what’s best for Chelsea Football Club and Didier has to do what’s best for him.”
It is not the only business for Chelsea to tidy up in the wake of the most famous night in their history.
They also have to resolve the future of interim manager Roberto Di Matteo.
No-one could have imagined quite what a success Di Matteo would be when he stepped in to replace Andre Villas-Boas in February.
Although Chelsea missed out on a coveted top-four place, they defeated Liverpool in the FA Cup final earlier this month before Saturday’s epic at the Allianz Arena.
As with Drogba, Di Matteo has sidestepped all talk of whether he will get the job permanently after delivering the trophy Roman Abramovich has spent nine years desperately trying to win.
With Fabio Capello ruling himself out on Saturday evening, it is hard to see who else Chelsea might get who would be a better alternative to Di Matteo.
And for the first time, Buck has confirmed the 41-year-old former Blues midfielder is a live candidate.
“Robbie has done an amazing job,” said Buck.
“He has enabled the players to get back the confidence they used to have. He’s really got them performing.
“We’ve put [managerial speculation] aside for the last six or eight weeks, concentrating on Barcelona, the FA Cup and Bayern Munich, but I think now we have to sit down and figure that out.
“Roberto is certainly in the mix, he’s done a great job and has to have serious consideration.”
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