Rafa's pre-match criticism of Drogba

[Nic83]

Nah, that must've just been random coincidence

Well he is a good looking man is Rafa

[Skillz]

I know for a fact that if he said something about me, I'd be overly determined to get one over on him, leading me to be far more focused and concentrated, and when you're far more focused and concentrated, your performance over time is much better and that goes for anything in life, not just footy.

Yesterday, if Drogba wasn't so determined, he may not have found himself in those positions to get his 2 goals, he may have been strolling around like a lazy ******* which is what he does quite often.

You mean that because Drogba took Rafa's comments personally he played better. FFS. Rafa made sure the ref gave us a level playing field.

Drogba got ridiculed for diving by all and sundry, then stopped and scored an absolute ****load. He shouldn't need Rafa to tell him to stand up and play, IMO.

[Nic83]

You mean that because Drogba took Rafa's comments personally he played better. FFS. Rafa made sure the ref gave us a level playing field.

Drogba got ridiculed for diving by all and sundry, then stopped and scored an absolute ****load. He shouldn't need Rafa to tell him to stand up and play, IMO.

I mean that those comments made him more focused and determined, which can only help Chelsea and hinder us. Noone can say for definite that in any one game it actually MADE him play better but it's a known fact that on the whole, the more focused and motivated you are, the better you are, and again that doesn't just go for football.

[Skillz]

I mean that those comments made him more focused and determined, which can only help Chelsea and hinder us. Noone can say for definite that in any one game it actually MADE him play better but it's a known fact that on the whole, the more focused and motivated you are, the better you are, and again that doesn't just go for football.

Not for a place in the CL final. My point is that Drogba doesn't really want to be at Chelsea. It was no surprise to me after last year that if Drogba just played football he was going to be a bigger threat.

Perhaps Rafa should of said nothing, but for me, what went on last week was not on and I am happy Rafa highlighted it, even if some might think it cost us.

[Snigger]

I mean that those comments made him more focused and determined, which can only help Chelsea and hinder us. Noone can say for definite that in any one game it actually MADE him play better but it's a known fact that on the whole, the more focused and motivated you are, the better you are, and again that doesn't just go for football.

Sorry, don't buy it - he didn't dive once last night and that was the aim of Rafa's comments. If Drogba needs any extra motivation in the semi final of the biggest club competition in the galaxy, at home in front of his own fans then he shouldn't be there.

[ntto]

Was lampard more motivated than he would have been after the death of his mother?

[Skillz]

Was lampard more motivated than he would have been after the death of his mother?

One of the best games i have seen him play. He did go missing for periods but nothing like Masher and Xabi in the 1st half. He earnt a lot of respect from me in this game.

[Snigger]

One of the best games i have seen him play. He did go missing for periods but nothing like Masher and Xabi in the 1st half. He earnt a lot of respect from me in this game.

If that was one of the best games he's played then he's even worse than I originally thought he was - Doesn't compare to Gerrard or the Monster Mash

[tomasjj]

Sorry, don't buy it - he didn't dive once last night and that was the aim of Rafa's comments. If Drogba needs any extra motivation in the semi final of the biggest club competition in the galaxy, at home in front of his own fans then he shouldn't be there.

Rafa spoke the truth. The ref didn't buy Drogbas diving. Mission accomplished.

He scored 2, but you can pin that on poor defending imo.

[El Jefecito]

Of course it had an affect. You don't need a degree in psychology to work that one out. Put yourself in Drogba's situation. it made him more determined than ever and someone in that mindset of course has a better chance of doing better things, which is what happened.

Skrtel had Drogba in his pocket. If he hadn't gone off, the match would have shaped up very differently

[Craig_H]

Skrtel had Drogba in his pocket. If he hadn't gone off, the match would have shaped up very differently

The emphatic confidence with which you say that is a bit strange mate, there's no way anyone could know that for sure.

[Reece]

The emphatic confidence with which you say that is a bit strange mate, there's no way anyone could know that for sure.

Just like there is no way you could no for sure if Rafa's words made Drogba play better.

[Craig_H]

Just like there is no way you could no for sure if Rafa's words made Drogba play better.

It's pure common sense that Rafa's words peeved Drogba off.

Even common sense couldnt tell you, after 10 mins, that Skrtel would have drogba in his pocket for the remaining 110 mins.

[Reece]

It's pure common sense that Rafa's words peeved Drogba off.

Yeah they may have peeved him, in fact of course they did. But only he knows whether it improved his performance.

[Craig_H]

Yeah they may have peeved him, in fact of course they did. But only he knows whether it improved his performance.

It would've made him more determined to make Rafa eat his words, without a doubt. Usually when you're more determined, focussed and concentrating on achieving a set objective, you're more likely to perform better.