Didier Drogba has accused his 'complacent' Chelsea team-mates of throwing away the title.
The Ivorian cited the Blues' tendency to concede late goals as being the cause of their failure to regain the Premiership - and insisted they had nobody to blame but themselves. Highlighting the late equalisers scored by Bolton, Aston Villa, Wigan and Everton, Drogba complained: "Losing those eight points has been massive for us. It is far too many for us to lay claim to being champions.
"It is certainly proof of an excess of complacency and a lack of concentration on our part. Each time we had the result in our hands, but sometimes we mentally finish games before the referee blows the final whistle.
"Manchester United deserved their title. They have been rewarded for their consistency. We have made too many mistakes, including on Sunday when we let Bolton equalise 30 seconds before the end of added time."
But, speaking to French sports paper L'Equipe, Drogba was more circumspect on the matter of his future at Chelsea.
"The only thing I'm thinking about now is the final in Moscow. I don't know what will happen in June or July," he remarked.
According to reports, Drogba is angling for a move to AC Milan and will not be offered an improved contract at Stamford Bridge as an incentive to stay in London.
Instead, the club are already considering their options to replace the Ivorian, with Dimitar Berbatov, Stuttgart's Mario Gómez and Valencia's transfer-listed David Villa thought to be among those under scrutiny.
Your Comments
manutd7
"it is time for Chelsea to change it best striker"
GunderBolt
"mikeh9995 u've said it all.When teams like Tot'ham, liverpool, Astonvilla have scored more goals than chelsea this season...then i think they were fortunate to have gone as far as they did. Their defence was key in sustaining the run they had when things got better afta the portugese left."
Chelsea1905
"Bluincha is right. The amount of times I've seen Drogba wasting time in games that we haven't won by moaning, complaining and rolling around seems endless. "
mikemoutinho
"Of course he's right. Often under Mourinho a goal to put them 1-0 up was enough. I just didn't get that same sense of composure, and confidence when JM left. All things considered though, a second place finish isn't all too bad for chelski. Might this be their first year since the JM era without silver wear though? I think that might be tough to swallow. Second to ManU in the league, second to ManU in the CL ... "
lakeside00
"i personally think drogba is right but shouldnt have place the blame on his team mete, cos they all cos us the title....but i believe they will leave up to expectation in moscow by conpesating us with the CPL. "
Bluincha
"The funny thing is that when people say that Drogba rolls around and dives, they forget that the team he's cheating the most is Chelsea, because a Drogba on form (Liverpool CL SF 2nd Leg) is infinity times the player that plays dirty (Liverpool CL SF 1st Leg)."
Chelsea1905
"That other story on Drogab sums things up really doesn't it? 'If' what we read is true and the Drogba quotes are true, is it any wonder people are tiring of him."
Mutid
"What a Superstar this guy is, I'd love him at United - my favourite Pantomime Villain, it will sad to see him go. Watching a brick sh!thouse rolling around on the floor feigning near-death agony, going to the touchline like it's touch and go, seeing him tentatively jog back on and grimacing after a rapid, miraculous recovery and then thump one into the net 5 minutes later - pure quality!!!! He cracks me up every time I watch him - him, Robo-Essien (the love child of Muttley and The Terminator) and Carvalho are the only reasons to watch Chelsea, though Ballack is slowly coming good. It will be interesting to see how he does abroad, especially if Mourinho takes over at AC Milan. I can't see that being a good marriage - AC Milan have too many traditions, too many powerful fans and too many Ghosts of Games Past to put to rest. Sure they love their defending, but they also love their attacking play. Mourinho's like the Onka - he's Year Zero, start again his way, forget the past - an absolute barking dictatorship that you either buy into or don't - it is all a game, but it is demanding and a bit hyper-loony. Abramovich got sick of it after 2 seasons of grinding games and endless paranoia. As for The Drog, he will score goals anywhere he goes - though he's more battering ram than ballerina so I'm not sure if the cultured Milan fans will take to his style. I am pretty definite they will not take to Mourinho - he was perfect for oiky upstarts Chelsea, but I think Drogba and him in Milan is a marriage made in hell. Good luck to them both, though, as they are both top entertainment - football needs guys like them."
ChelskiOman
"I hope the Drogs includes himself in this criticism. He's run hot'n cold all season. Picking his games when to try a bit harder. Next Wednesday should be a driving force for all the team and bring the cup back from Moscow."
Chelsea1905
"I personally think Didier Drogba should be taking a long hard look at himself as much as anyone. Yes we've conceded some late goals. But we've also been lacklustre and complacent further up the field too. Drogba can often look uninterested especially when things do not go his way and as a fan, I find that annoying and frustrating. I wanna see all players giving 100% and sometimes I get the impression he isn't."
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