By: Omar Jatta
Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Didier Drogba’s parent club, Montreal Impact in the US Major League Soccer, the MLS, over the future of the former Blue’s striker. The 37 year-old club legend, has been mooted for a coaching role under interim manager Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge.
Since the return of Hiddink to Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho’s replacement, speculations have intensified on Drogba’s return to the London Club as an assistant to the Dutch manager.
The former Ivorian striker signed for Montreal back in July, after winning yet another Premier League and League cup title with the Blues last season. However, he is currently in London while the MLS is close for their winter break, but he is expected to return to Montreal in the new year unless if the two club’s can trash out a deal, as he is still under contract with the Canadian outfit.
Drogba has earned legendary statues at the Bridge having served at the London club with great distinction in two separate spells spanning over a decade between 2004 and 2015, amassing 381 carrier appearances with 164 goals in his combined spells. He has scored more goals than any other foreign player in the club’s history and is currently the club’s fourth highest goal scorer of all times.
The former Marseille striker was on the stands at Stamford Bridge last Saturday alongside Hiddink and club owner, Roman Abramovich, as the Blues registered an emphatic victory over Sunderland.
Montreal has confirmed Drogba has expressed a “desire to help” his old club but they express their intention to have him back when their league resumes.
“We understand his attachment, but our objective is to have him back for another season,” Montreal tweeted.
The club have conceded the situation surrounding their talismanic striker who has already scored 11 goals in 11 games in the MLS is a difficult one, but made emphasis that they have a contract with the player for two seasons.
”We are doing everything we can to have him back with the Impact in 2016, said the club. Adding: ”we are willing to accommodate him. This situation is out of our control.”
The new Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink on Wednesday refused to be drawn on whether Drogba would join his backroom staff.
“I worked with him five or six years ago and I was delighted to have such a professional in the squad,” the Dutchman said.
“He’s a legend already in this club. The only thing is at the moment is that he’s playing in Montreal.
Chelsea have endured a terrible start to the season, losing nine of their 17 games to slip to 15th in the table, which lead to the club sacking manager Jose Mourinho amid speculations of a divided dressing room.
The team is set to face Watford at home this afternoon for Hiddink’s first game incharge and the former Netherlands manager has called for the players to take a closer look at themselves in the mirror, pointing out they have underperformed this season and has thrown down a challenge for them to start fighting on all fronts, with them still on course for a double as they are still in the Champions League and the FA Cup and he will hope they can also put up a fight for a top four finish in the Barclays Premier League.
