Drogba felt his loss so much he controversially announced in a France Football magazine interview last week that he wanted to follow Mourinho out of Stamford Bridge.

He later said he “regretted” making his comments public.

Now the Ivory Coast striker, who hit 33 goals last season as Chelsea collected the FA Cup and Carling Cup, has revealed he was upset by Mourinho’s exit and says he has kept in touch with the Portuguese coach ever since.

Drogba, 29, told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat: “How could I not be emotional when he brought me to England, to the best league in the world?

“He was always behind me and protecting me. If I had a good season last year, it was because he was behind me and the team was behind me.

“I’m still in touch with him, the relationship is good. It’s important to keep in touch with people you worked with for four years.

“If you are not happy to be somewhere, it is difficult to give 100%.

“Now I’m giving 100% because I feel good. I love the fans – I think they show me the respect I deserve and this is very important.”

Drogba made his admission while promoting a new anti-racism single ’Skin’ on which both he and team-mate Michael Essien had recorded backing vocals.

But the striker, preparing for tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Schalke at Stamford Bridge, has still not written off Chelsea’s hopes of landing the Barclays Premier League title despite a poor start to the campaign.

Drogba added: “Being eight points behind is a situation we are not used to.

“Now what is good is that there are a lot of teams who are competing to be champions, more than two or three years ago. Maybe this will help us.

“It was very painful to lose the league last year – when you get used to something, it’s difficult to lose it.”

Drogba joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24million in July 2004 and has been the subject of regular speculation since, with Lyon the latest club to be linked with a move for the striker.

However, Chelsea expect Drogba to honour the remaining years of his contract.