Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea showdown leaves Didier Drogba’s future unclear
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari became embroiled in an angry meeting with a number of players as an attempt to clear the air following a run of disappointing results descended in to a bitter squabble in which Didier Drogba came in for particular criticism.
Luiz Felipe Scolari was involved in a training ground showdown with Chelsea players with ire expressed towards Didier Drogba
The Brazilian called the meeting, which lasted almost an hour, to analyse Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Fulham which allowed Liverpool to open a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
However, tempers boiled over amid frank exchanges, according to sources, with Drogba singled out for a perceived negative impact on team-spirit following an interview in France Football magazine. In it he claimed the club did not support him adequately following the death of his grandmother.
Drogba claimed that he lost his love of the game following his bereavement, though during the meeting a number of players identified Drogba himself as one of the main reasons for a lack of harmony.
The Daily Mail quote a source within the meeting who says one player accused Drogba of “talking bollocks”.
After Drogba’s grandmother died in the summer, the player pointed out, Chelsea hired “a private jet to fly him to the Ivory Coast”.
Drogba is likely to face official club censure for his outspoken comments.
The meeting had been designed to address simmering unrest within the squad but appears to have done little more than highlight differences between some squad members and management.
The disruption could not have come at a worse time for Scolari as his attempts to claim the Premier League title in his first season in England appear to be faltering.
After an FA Cup third round match with Southend Chelsea travel to Old Trafford for their next Premier League match and defeat there would hand Manchester United, and Liverpool, the initiative in the title race after Chelsea failed to beat any of the other 'Big Four' sides at home.
Scolari has privately admitted that it has taken him longer to get to grips with a new club and league than he had imagined it might, though despite being under huge pressure to win silverware the club continue to fully support the Brazilian and his methods.
The ill-tempered meeting and Drogba’s central role in it raise the possibility once more of the striker being sold in the January transfer window.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has publicly stated than none of the squad are for sale but a return of 9 goals for the club in 2008 coupled with the form of Nicolas Anelka and Scolari’s need to raise funds to buy means Drogba may well have his price.
A figure of £30 million was mentioned during the summer when Drogba looked likely to join former manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan and a similar amount would be expected by Chelsea were he to leave in January.
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari became embroiled in an angry meeting with a number of players as an attempt to clear the air following a run of disappointing results descended in to a bitter squabble in which Didier Drogba came in for particular criticism.
Luiz Felipe Scolari was involved in a training ground showdown with Chelsea players with ire expressed towards Didier Drogba
The Brazilian called the meeting, which lasted almost an hour, to analyse Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Fulham which allowed Liverpool to open a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
However, tempers boiled over amid frank exchanges, according to sources, with Drogba singled out for a perceived negative impact on team-spirit following an interview in France Football magazine. In it he claimed the club did not support him adequately following the death of his grandmother.
Drogba claimed that he lost his love of the game following his bereavement, though during the meeting a number of players identified Drogba himself as one of the main reasons for a lack of harmony.
The Daily Mail quote a source within the meeting who says one player accused Drogba of “talking bollocks”.
After Drogba’s grandmother died in the summer, the player pointed out, Chelsea hired “a private jet to fly him to the Ivory Coast”.
Drogba is likely to face official club censure for his outspoken comments.
The meeting had been designed to address simmering unrest within the squad but appears to have done little more than highlight differences between some squad members and management.
The disruption could not have come at a worse time for Scolari as his attempts to claim the Premier League title in his first season in England appear to be faltering.
After an FA Cup third round match with Southend Chelsea travel to Old Trafford for their next Premier League match and defeat there would hand Manchester United, and Liverpool, the initiative in the title race after Chelsea failed to beat any of the other 'Big Four' sides at home.
Scolari has privately admitted that it has taken him longer to get to grips with a new club and league than he had imagined it might, though despite being under huge pressure to win silverware the club continue to fully support the Brazilian and his methods.
The ill-tempered meeting and Drogba’s central role in it raise the possibility once more of the striker being sold in the January transfer window.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has publicly stated than none of the squad are for sale but a return of 9 goals for the club in 2008 coupled with the form of Nicolas Anelka and Scolari’s need to raise funds to buy means Drogba may well have his price.
A figure of £30 million was mentioned during the summer when Drogba looked likely to join former manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan and a similar amount would be expected by Chelsea were he to leave in January.
...Terry?
post/rant, best ever
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