The last 16 tie is evenly poised after a 1-1 draw in Istanbul a fortnight ago when Fernando Torres's early goal was cancelled out by Aurelien Chedjou, although the odds are stacked in our favour as Galatasaray have never won an away game against English opposition in eight attempts. We have also been eliminated at this stage of the competition on only two previous occasions, progressing seven times.
While Blues fans will be focused on cheering their team on to victory, there will also be an opportunity to give thanks to one of the club's favourite sons when Drogba returns to west London.
"I spent eight years with Chelsea - and it was eight years of fantastic memories," revealed the Ivorian striker exclusive interview with Chelsea TV. "There were difficult moments, but also moments of joy and happiness. All of these things have made quite an interesting history of my life. I can't forget it.
"My family are still in Cobham and my son is playing for the club he loves. He's having fun."
The loving feeling is certainly more than mutual from Blues fans, with readers of Chelsea magazine voting Drogba their greatest-ever player to mark the 100th edition of the club's monthly publication.
When he stepped up in Munich to take the penalty which would crown Chelsea as the champions of Europe, did any Blues fan have any doubts?
If Peter Osgood was the original big-game player for the Blues then the Ivorian is surely the ultimate; nine major cup final appearances and nine major cup final goals marked him out as a man who relished the biggest occasions.
He could do it on the smaller occasions too, and twice finished as the Premier League's top scorer on his way to becoming the first African player to score 100 goals in the English top flight.
Welcome back, Didier.
No comments:
Post a Comment