Jan 25, 2016
Drogba will have to win back hearts in Montreal
Just when it seemed as if Didier Drogba would end up back in England, came the news he would honour his contract with the Impact in MLS. As TSN's Noel Butler writes, the star will have to make a few amends back in Montreal.
By Noel Butler
There goes my thinking proper roller coasters were the exclusive domain of Walt Disney. Just when you thought the Montreal Impact Drogba Express had derailed and was headed for the haunted house - and with it all hope sense was not going to prevail this time.
Ultimately, Didier Drogba, the lone individual whose decision the entire outcome rode on, chose wisely.
The next point of business for the Impact striker will be to see out his contract, the one he had signed some six months previously.
When Drogba departed Montreal back in the middle of November, the expectation and requirement was that the Impact striker, who bedazzled MLS with his play, goals and charisma last season, would return to La Belle Ville a few days ahead of club medicals, which were undertaken last weekend.
Drogba is currently in Qatar for the initial phase of his own personal conditioning, working with the team of experts that have played a part in ensuring the 37-year-old striker has been able to extend his playing career at this level.
A concession from the Impact undoubtedly, but you can be assured the club will be heavily monitoring his regime. While in the isolation Doha affords, the Impact striker needs to be seriously revisiting and questioning some of what has occurred these past five weeks.
The Impact announced late Sunday morning Drogba is now scheduled to join up with his teammates, coaching staff and likely a sizeable contingent of Montreal media down in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the second phase of the Impact’s Florida-based camps in less than three weeks.
With Florida a favourite winter destination for many Montrealers, you can be guaranteed a number of club supporters will be around. Some will likely not be as complimentary as they were when Drogba arrived in town last summer.
Ever since that article from the Paris-based magazine Jeune Afrique on Dec. 18, dismissed as fabrication by nearly everyone involved, washed down with those now infamous images from Stamford Bridge, Drogba was in an almost impossible position.
For some of that, blame José Mourinho. Or more to the point, Mourinho’s firing by Chelsea. Mourinho has himself, his actions, and questionable behaviours to blame for his dismissal. Those woeful performances and results by his side didn’t exactly help his case.
No one could have scripted it all unravelling as it did and ‘that call’ coming to Drogba far earlier than had been expected or planned for. Even so, the Montreal Impact should not have become a prime victim of the Stamford Bridge chaos that was a hallmark of the BPL champions under Mourinho.
Another key factor swirling in the melting pot was Guus Hiddink’s comments on Drogba returning to Chelsea, made ahead of his appointment as the interim Chelsea head coach. Drogba will return to Chelsea at some point in a still-to-be-agreed capacity, as will Frank Lampard when his playing days are over.
Drogba is far from innocent in all this.
You just have to look at the fact over this entire process, outside of his tweet knocking back retirement rumours, we saw a complete absence of reassurance for Impact supporters. Likely not much reassurance either for the Impact themselves.
Much blame must be laid squarely at Drogba’s door, and with those entrusted with his well-being within his enlarged management team.
We have precedent. The farce that followed Drogba’s refusal to speak with media following his Impact debut was not exactly the best start with the media, nor the league. Even David Beckham toed the must speak with media post game line. The LA Galaxy star even put himself up pre-game. Not Drogba.
Impact president Joey Saputo, it has to be said, played his cards extremely well. Rightfully knocked in years previously for reacting and over-reacting, Saputo was likely infuriated beyond a reasonable belief as those images emerged from Stamford Bridge on Dec 19.
Just this time last year, Saputo was readying for that now infamous roundtable where he refreshingly laid it all out, and on the line. Too bad other MLS owners don’t have such fortitude as they hide behind layers of PR drivel.
Accuse Saputo of what you like. To me the biggest crime the Impact owner has ever committed is that he cares for his club far too much.
With Drogba, we witnessed a rebranded Saputo as he completely kept his counsel and his wits about him. He focused all resources on retrieving, from an improbable position and the weakest of hands, a most precarious position for his club.
It’s firmly established the Impact is very much a family and community-oriented soccer institution. On any given match day, scores of the immediate and extended Saputo family are not only in attendance at the stadium which bears their name, they are also fully accessible to their public.
Not for them to hide behind the veil of security laden private suites. Post-match you are as likely to see some of Saputo’s children and other young relatives kicking a football down on the pitch as you are Impact players warming down.
This time last week, an already deteriorating situation appeared completely doomed to end in tears for all concerned. No manner of concessions offered as ways to best influence Drogba to make the only rightful, and correct decision available.
I stated late last week Drogba had the biggest decision of his career to make. That decision likely only relayed as the eleventh hour struck.
With permissions given to allow for Drogba to escape the Montreal chill in favour of the Doha heat to begin his preseason regime away from his teammates, the distraction created if Drogba was to simply just show up in town this past weekend has been avoided.
The Impact owner will be far wiser for this experience. Not ever again will Saputo place his club in such jeopardy. We can be rest assured Saputo will do all in his power to not ever allow one of his players appear so powerful. Remind me again how Sir Alex Ferguson reacted when any of his players ever thought they were bigger, more important than the actual club itself.
I believe Drogba’s heart will be firmly and fully with the considerable Impact task at hand in 2016, which will be to meet or improve on last season’s showing. The man and the footballer that Drogba undoubtedly is, does not do things in half measures. He is not about to start either.
Drogba’s every move in Montreal will be analyzed and then over analyzed.
If I’m advising the Impact striker I’d make it explicitly apparent that there will be no return to Stamford Bridge until the Impact’s 2016 post-season review. Injuries should not be used as opportunity to return to London like so many other designated players in seasons previously. With a sizeable Montreal home rented, it’s time to bring over the wife and family.
It’s likely, as the Impact will most certainly want to manage very astutely Drogba’s playing time, we will not see too much of him through the first few matches. For a number of reasons, including playing into the opponent’s hands, Drogba’s home debut should not be held over until the christening of the Stade Saputo pitch in late April. The eastern conference champions visit Olympic Stadium in early April. Drogba, as like the Impact, has scores to settle with the Columbus Crew.
A clean slate to begin, a very challenging season ahead - now is time for Drogba to win back that abundance of Impact hearts and minds who feel like they had their cherished holidays ruined. Whilst privately reassuring Saputo, players and coaches alike with your actions. It’s not what happens that counts, but your response to what happens that counts.
Impact world is watching in, rose-tinted spectacles currently removed.
Noel Butler can be reached at: