Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has praised Didier Drogba ahead of the second leg Champions League tie with Galatasaray. Drogba will be coming up against his former club where he holds special memories. During his eight-year spell with the club, Drogba won numerous trophies and was often the leading striker. He helped the club win the Champions League with his last cut for the club. Due to several such reasons, he is considered as a legend at Chelsea. Mourinho has opened the possibility of Drogba returning to the club in the future.
He says that the Ivory Coast international still remains as one of the best in the world, although he considered that Drogba may never reach the peak he had attained at 26 years of age. In almost 350 appearances for the West London outfit, Drogba scored more than 150 goals. He is still the top scorer for the club in the Champions League. Even though he did not scored the first leg, the 35-year-old was influential in helping the Turkish outfit get an equaliser. They come into the second leg at Stamford Bridge looking to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Drogba has said that he is unlikely to celebrate against his former club even if he gets a crucial goal.
“Is he the same player at 36 years old as he was at 26? Nobody is, but he is certainly still one of the best strikers in the world. He is undoubtedly one of the most important players in the history of the club. All Chelsea supporters, we agree with that. I think it has to happen one day. When, I don’t know. As a player, as a coach, as an ambassador, next year, in four, five years, in 10 years, I don’t know,” said Mourinho.