This time last year as I was writing this exact article, Didier Drogba and Galatasaray were getting set to make a trip to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie. Drogba was the enemy, albeit a very familiar one, and he was hoping to return to London and spoil Chelsea FC‘s party. We knew what sort of reception that King Didier would receive but we all hoped that he would not be his usual self against his old teammates.
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It was a surreal moment when Drogba stepped on to the Stamford Bridge pitch as the enemy, in colors we had never seen him in before. The only feeling that could have compared to was seeing Frank Lampard return as Manchester City player but even he had played against Chelsea in the league before. With Lampard there was still a hint of bitterness because of how he left the club but with Drogba it was just a longing for the glory years of his youth.
Drogba was unable to stop Chelsea’s progress to the next round and he did little to threaten it in his time on the pitch. We hoped that Roberto Mancini would bring Drogba off early so he could receive the ovation he deserved but he did no such thing. We thought it was going to be the last time we saw him on the pitch at Stamford Bridge and it was a strange farewell.
Fast forward a year later and here we are. Didier Drogba is back in Chelsea blue where he belongs and still making an impact. He may not be doing quite as much as he was in his prime, but he has proven that he can still be effective when called upon in relief of Diego Costa.
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His magical run of three goals in three games against Maribor, Manchester United, and Shrewsbury Town was followed by three goals in four games just a month later against Schalke, Newcastle United, and Tottenham. He still had a goalscorer’s touch even if he did not have the pace or stamina to match. He even saw the pitch in the League Cup Final at Wembley for just a few moments but it was his winner against Shrewsbury that helped Chelsea get to that point.
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The story of the 2014/15 Chelsea season is still being written and Drogba may yet add a big moment or two to his chapter. The Blues still have plenty of big matches left to play and Didier Drogba has proven time and time again that he is the man for the big occasion. He has scored 9 goals in cup finals for the Blues, all in winning efforts save for the 2008 League Cup Final loss to Tottenham.
Most recently of course was his equalizer and winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League Final, arguably the greatest moment in the history of the club. Didier Drogba may just be a shadow of his former self but the shadow of a giant still towers over his opponents.
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