Drogba Wants Extended Chelsea Stay

Didier Drogba wants to remain at Stamford Bridge beyond the end of the season.

The Ivoirian signed a one-year contract on his return to Chelsea in the summer following spells with Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray.

The West London outfit are yet to confirm whether the ex-Ivory Coast striker’s deal will get a new deal when his current contract expires, but the 36-year-old has hinted he wants to remain with the Blues “family” either on or off the pitch.

“When you have achieved so much and won so many trophies like we have done in the past 10 years, that creates something special,” said Drogba.

Didier Drogba Celebrates His Fourth Goal in Nine Meetings Against Spurs. Image: Getty.
Didier Drogba Celebrates His Fourth Goal in Nine Meetings Against Spurs. Image: Getty.

“I hope, and the club makes me believe, I am part of this big family, so we are going to find the best thing for both of us to promote the club in the best way.”

Drogba added: “When I left this club (the first time), I was saying that I had done everything I wanted to do, but I think now that I did not do everything, I think there is more to do. I love this club and would love to be part of this club for the future, with the new players.”

The striker received the 2015 Football Writers’ Association Tribute Award at a gala dinner in London on Sunday night.

Chelsea team-mate Petr Cech and former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry were all on hand to pay tribute to the one-time African Footballer of the Year at the Savoy Hotel, where England manager was in attendance.

“I am really proud for this award, in the list of previous winners there are a lot of players whom I really respect and grew up trying to reach there level, so for me this is a great honour,” he said.

“When I came to England, things were difficult, there was the language barrier and culture change. With time, we managed to learn more from each other and today I am really happy that the football writers not only understand me a lot on the pitch, but have also helped me with my foundation work.”

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who brought Drogba to the Premier League from Olympique des Marseille for £24 million in 2004, wrote a personal tribute to the striker in the FWA event programme.

Mourinho wrote: “Throughout my career, I have always refused to say which is my favourite player or the best person, because so many have given soul and blood to play and to fight with me, but if I have to choose one who represents all the good things you want in a player and a man, I think in this moment I would choose Didier.”