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Scolari set to ditch Drogba over his secret Inter talks
Simon Johnson, Football Correspondent26 Nov 2008
Luiz Felipe Scolari is ready to drop Didier Drogba to the bench against Bordeaux tonight as a punishment for meeting with Inter Milan officials behind Chelsea's back.
The Blues are stunned by Drogba's decision to talk with Inter Milan general manager Marco Branca and Jose Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes in a Fulham restaurant on Monday night.
Drogba was set to start in the Champions League clash against the French club as he is currently unavailable domestically after being given a three-match ban for throwing a coin at Burnley fans two weeks ago.
He was already in Scolari's bad books for his ill-discipline against Burnley. But the Chelsea manager, who said he knew nothing about the striker's meeting with Inter, is furious that his preparations for tonight's game have been interrupted, and is expected to get tough by keeping Nicolas Anelka up front instead of Drogba.
When questioned about the 30-year-old's whereabouts on Monday, Scolari said: “I don't sleep with Didier. Where he was, I don't know.
“I'm not the policemen for my players. I don't know if he had permission to talk to them. Ask Peter Kenyon or Roman Abramovich.”
Former Chelsea boss Mourinho, now manager of Inter, has been linked with a move for Drogba before.
He said: “I don't know if the meeting took place between my agent and Drogba. I was with Rui Faria [Inter's fitness coach] and our families having dinner.”
It is understood that Drogba, who has 18 months left on his current deal, could be swapped for Brazilian striker Adriano.
Reader views (10)
Alex Lisinge, Putney.
What a silly question ! Meeting secretly with representatives from another football club in conjunction with an agent prior to the January transfer window..... This hardly falls into the category of `making friends who are not in their team` Your posting does suggest a touch of nievity.
- John E, Northants, 27/11/2008 07:46
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I'm sorry, but although Didier has been inspirational in the past, that was largely under a different system of play. Didier was often the lone striker under Mourinho and Grant, having to fight battles on his own by being big and powerful. But now under Scolari we also need a clinical finisher like Anelka to finish intricate, fast passing movements. I hope Didier does stay (as he gives us another option) but what with the coin throwing incident, maybe its time he moved on.
- Adrian, London, 26/11/2008 16:43
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Are footballers barred from making friends who are not in their team ?
- Alex Lisinge, Putney London, 26/11/2008 14:24
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Drogba is a very vital player to us.let the coach as well as every other chelsea person concern should see it as a way of trying to get our focus off the atch.i want the issue to be handle properly and i suggest he start alonside Anelka.Up blues
- Ekerette, Uyo,Nigeria, 26/11/2008 13:45
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There is no doubt about it, Drogba has been a valuable asset for the Blues, but during the last couple of seasons he has been more of a temperamental, even grumpy player.....Methinks that it's time you moved on Didier. Anelka is now the main man.
- James Hamilton, Malta, 26/11/2008 13:19
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good riddance, the guy had one good season, he is not irreplaceable
- Simon Bucknell, enfield, 26/11/2008 12:22
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Hopefully they will keep him the bench on Sunday as well. he always gives us a hard time !
- Rob Gooner, North London, 26/11/2008 12:02
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Drog! Drog! Drog!. No player is Irreplaceable!
You were an asset to Chelsea but you seem to have become a liability, please get raid of Drog for the sake of Chelsea. I suspect he is not happy Chelsea wining without him in the team.
- Richmond Boateng, London, 26/11/2008 11:57
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Col, I couldn't agree more. Drogba is a loose cannon whose lack of discipline I still hold responsible for our Champion's League defeat last year. I was gutted when Mourinho left but have been totally won over by Scolari and what he has achieved thus far. We have enough quality players to cope without the likes of Drogba.
- Sharon, London, 26/11/2008 10:53
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Oh! Drogba should have been sold after the fiasco at last years euro final, but for his red card, Chelsea could have won that competion, and upon his return he should have been transfered, today they will have to get rid of him for peanuts, live and learn as they say
- Col, West London, 26/11/2008 09:49
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