Chelsea's legendary striker Didier Drogba has shared his deepest regrets from his remarkable tenure at Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian powerhouse, who found the back of the net 164 times in 381 appearances for the Blues, recently opened up about the tournaments he missed and the talented players he never got to play alongside during his celebrated career.
Club World Cup disappointment
The 46-year-old former striker expressed his heartfelt disappointment about never competing in the FIFA Club World Cup whilst wearing the Chelsea blue. Despite being present as a spectator when Chelsea claimed victory in Abu Dhabi in 2021 following their Champions League triumph under Thomas Tuchel, Drogba yearned to be more than just an observer. "I would have loved to have played in the Club World Cup. It is life, that is how things are. It is one of my regrets," the Ivorian star revealed.
Missed opportunities with talented teammates
As per GiveMeSport, Drogba named several stars he wished had been his teammates at Chelsea, including current captain Reece James. The list extended to former Blues talents Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Rüdiger, N'Golo Kanté, and Mason Mount.
His stellar career at Chelsea, which spanned two spells (2004-2012 and 2014-2015), brought home 13 major trophies, including four Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League. Drogba confessed,
"For me, it was also a great experience. I wish I was on the pitch with Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Rüdiger, N'Golo Kanté, Mason Mount, Reece James and so on. Yes, it is a regret."
Backing expanded Club World Cup
Supporting the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup scheduled for next summer in the United States, Drogba emphasised its importance for African football development. He pointed out that it offers "an immense opportunity for players coming from continents like Africa."
Participating clubs stand to gain an initial £40m, with potential earnings tripling for the winners. The Premier League icon also shared his perspective on the current season's challenges, noting, "First of all, I think the league is not easy," whilst highlighting the necessity of deep squads for teams competing across multiple tournaments.