Jan 8, 2016
There may be more twists yet in Drogba drama
The Didier Drogba situation has made news on both sides of the Atlantic and according to TSN soccer analyst Noel Butler, the drama may not be over just yet.
By Noel Butler
LONDON -- With these five words, ‘Didier Drogba arrête sa carrière’ an almighty social media and online firestorm went into orbit. Originating in Paris shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday night, the news immediately bounced across the Atlantic to Montreal, then back across the pond to jolly old London town where it ultimately fizzled out quicker than Chelsea’s Premier League title defence.
By the end of it we finally got to hear directly from Didier Drogba, the man at the epicentre of it all, for the first time since been he was spotted at Stamford Bridge on Dec. 19, sitting between Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink and owner Roman Abramovich - the defining image in this long-running saga.
It was astonishing to witness the number of highly renowned mainstream media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic that were so easily suckered into the L'Équipe article claiming Drogba was retiring from the Montreal Impact to join Chelsea’s coaching staff. A mere paragraph long, it gave the appearance of an official statement.
Keeping up the April Fool’s Day theme, the newspaper I have long admired even had the gall to include the date and regal occasion of Drogba’s coaching coronation – at the aptly titled Parc des Princes on Feb. 16, when Chelsea will square off in Paris once more against their formidable foe Paris Saint-Germain.
My first reaction on getting word, while on my way to a meeting, was to reach out to sources in London who are in the know.
After all, only a few hours before L'Équipe lit up the football world like Eden Hazard does the Chelsea flank, I had been, I thought, reliably informed that there had been no movement whatsoever in the so-termed L'Affaire Drogba.
I managed to speak — very briefly as she fielded floods of calls from near and far —with Drogba’s public relations manager Caroline McAteer. Once of Mr. and Mrs. Beckham fame, Caroline is without doubt one of the finer PR minds there is. The testament to this is her top-grade talent list, which includes Drogba’s ex-teammate and current Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Čech. McAteer, for obvious reasons, wasn’t talking. Yes, it is possible in this day and age to have a revealing telephone conversation where the other party doesn’t talk.
From what I understand, the Impact has remained steely firm in their singular focus to convince Drogba to return to Montreal, the city he lit the most considerable football fire under during the five months or so he was in uniform. The club is said to be flexible, to a reasonable extent, regarding the date he does return to La Belle Ville.
Wednesday’s rather surreal and most bizarre events were preceded by Tuesday’s news from Stade Saputo that the Impact would kick off training camp Jan. 26. A few days prior to that — factoring in the preseason medical tests take place in the direct lead up to training camp — would have been the time Drogba would have ordinarily pencilled in his return.
As disclosed in this column two weeks ago, Drogba has rented a home in Montreal for 2016. Something else to consider, now that MLS has finally released the entire 2016 season schedule, is that only one of the Impact’s first five fixtures will be played on grass. That match is in Dallas on March 19. Like last season, the Impact will mercifully only play two matches at Olympic Stadium before staging their true home opener at Stade Saputo on April 23.
As much as we are fully aware of Drogba’s influence in the Impact locker room in 2015, it has been revealing these past few weeks to hear that Drogba’s role as Stamford Bridge mentor was as vital as his scoring touch in helping Chelsea secure the BPL title last year.
Thibault Courtois is the latest Chelsea player to go on the record regarding Drogba. Earlier in the week he told London’s Evening Standard newspaper that he had a good relationship with him last season and that Drogba would be a great addition if he returned to Stamford Bridge in a coaching capacity.
More revealing was what the newspaper’s Simon Johnson told TSN690 this week regarding the mentoring role Drogba played after Courtois had been dropped for a game last season. Johnson described Drogba as a conduit between manager and player.
If Drogba is intent on returning to Chelsea, sooner or later something and someone has to give. Concessions are the hallmark of any successful negotiation. From what I know, there are some extremely clever minds involved in the direct negotiations. The longer the uncertainty prevails, the less likely anyone wins.
As revealed a week ago, a fee has been placed by MLS to rescind Drogba’s 2016 contract. Therein lies the simple conclusion to all this. If only football operated that way.
If I’m involved in the discussions I would not allow money to cloud better judgement. This, though, is no simple transfer. As a concession, and factoring in all which it has cost the Impact to bring Drogba to MLS, a deal should be struck between the Impact and Chelsea over future considerations.
I hear Eden Hazard looks rather good in a blue shirt. On top of this, the young Belgian is good friends with his international teammate Laurent Ciman. A dream I know, but this situation is nightmare-like for the Impact who did not have an inkling what was to unfold over these three previous weeks.
The only other option is Drogba returns to Montreal. Time heals. If that was the case, as remote some might believe that to be, Drogba is far too much of a professional to allow for this almighty episode to distract from his play. The man is a born winner. Remember what he said when unveiled at Stade Saputo late last July. He has the accolades and trophies to back those words up.
It’s heartening, for Impact supporters especially, to hear yet again Friday from Hiddink in the pre match press conference ahead of Sunday’s match at Stamford Bridge that Chelsea have to respect Drogba’s contract. As Drogba said himself on his Twitter account Wednesday, he is still in discussions with the Impact. Whilst there is that, hope remains for all connected to the Impact.
When signing off from Oranges at Halftime at the start of the week, I stated my belief there would be another twist in this tale. As shoddy as it was, I’ll give L’Équipe a mulligan. All eyes now on Stamford Bridge Sunday when Chelsea entertain Scunthorpe in this season’s FA Cup. A competition like no other, and one which through the decades has provided more twists and turns than a John le Carré novel.
Noel Butler can be reached at:
Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca
@TheSoccerNoel