DIDIER DROGBA has told Michael Ballack he should have
signed for title rivals Manchester United or
Arsenal.
The outspoken Chelsea striker reckons Germany captain Ballack got
it wrong when he joined the Blues on a free from Bayern
Munich.
Drogba insisted: Its hard for Ballack at Chelsea because this
club is special.
Im convinced he would have had a much easier time at Manchester
United or Arsenal because they benefit from their well-balanced
team he would have been a better fit there.
At Chelsea, we depend on our individuals. So, maybe Chelsea is not
the right club for Ballack.
Ballack, 31, was amazingly left out of the Champions League squad
list by the Blues and Drogba admits he was stunned by the
omission.
He reckons club politics played a big part in denying the
three-time German Player of the Year a Champions League squad
number.
Ballack is currently recovering from ankle surgery.
But Drogba, 29, admitted: I was very surprised he was not
nominated because he was one of our team leaders. Of course he
still is a leader now.
His experience and his strength in the air make him indispensable.
But I dont know what happened between him and the front
office.
Drogba also lashed out at critics who insist the reason for
snubbing Ballack was that he is too similar a player to England
midfielder Frank Lampard.
Drogba insisted: I believe that Ballack and Lampard can harmonise
well. They have proved it a couple of times in the Champions League
already.
Against Barcelona and Porto, both played fantastically. They are
experienced and intelligent enough to play together.
Ivory Coast international Drogba is being chased by a string of
Italian, French and Spanish clubs after insisting he wants to leave
Stamford Bridge following the departure of Jose Mourinho as
manager.
But the powerful hitman revealed he would be ready to join German
giants Bayern Munich because of the clubs European
tradition.
He said: A club like Bayern Munich is historic.
The representatives are former Bayern stars and thats the right
way to play the first fiddle on an international level.
I have to admit, that I envy players like Franck Ribery or Luca
Toni because they are under contract in Munich.
As a player, its your duty to continue the tradition of such a
club but the most important thing is to have fun.
In Germany they play very offensively, there are a lot of goals,
the stadiums are modern and full.
That counts for me. When I entered the Allianz Arena in Munich
during the World Cup, I was flattened by the atmosphere.
Drogba, who netted 33 goals last term, was furious after the club
sacked pal Mourinho but has since said he will continue to give his
all for the team.
Now former World Player of the Year George Weah has backed Drog to
put his unrest behind him and prove he is the No 1 striker on the
planet.
Weah said: Im excited seeing the way Didier is exploding in the
top league in England. It has afforded him an opportunity to show
that hes world class.
I think hes a very focused player despite the rumours about his
planned exit from the Premier League. He has tried to be calm and
deliver the goods.
He could become the World Player of the Year one day.
I like seeing African players taking after me.
I respect Didier a lot for showing such skill every week and
staying off controversy.
I think he loves Chelsea and cant dump the team in the way they
are speculating.
He might have been facing some pressure but thats what comes with
stardom.
He will let everybody know when he wants to leave Chelsea and not
just disappear through the back door. He is a classy striker with a
great range of skills that is very rare.
Any club that has him must count themselves lucky because he is
committed and very hard working.
French champions Lyon are one of the teams who have targeted
Drogba.
Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas last night admitted they want to capture
the Blues hotshot.
Asked if Lyon would try to sign the superstar, Aulas said:
Everything is possible in football. Didier Drogba is an
exceptional footballer who loves France.
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, who joined from Lyon last summer
for £14million, is a close pal of Drogbas.
But Aulas admits Maloudas exit meant Lyon lost a trump card in
their bid to lure Drogba back for a second stint in France. Drogba
caused a huge furore at Chelsea after launching a furious attack on
the club.
The forward said his first choice is a move to AC Milan or Inter
but he has also left open the possibility of a return to France
where he excelled for Marseille before joining Chelsea in a £24m
move.
His agent Etienne Mendy said: Its no secret that Didier likes
Milan, he often visits the city during his time off.
But we cannot rule out the other big Italian side
Juventus.
His relationship with Chelsea isnt as good as it was under
Mourinho but Drogba is a professional and knows he plays for a
club, not a manager.
