Showing posts with label Bayern Munich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bayern Munich. Show all posts
Didier Drogba has confirmed he plans to quit Chelsea following his Champions League final heroics, according to France Football magazine.
The Ivory Coast striker has been quoted saying he informed his team-mates of his decision during the club's open-top bus parade on Monday after leading them to the greatest moment in their history on Saturday night.
"We will no longer be together next season," the 34-year-old said in quotes attributed to France Football magazine.
Drogba, who has reportedly already agreed a deal to join Shanghai Shenhua when his Chelsea contract expires this summer, is said to have admitted he struggled to get the words out and burst into tears.
He went on to say: "As I decided to leave, I wanted to tell them straight in the eye. Except that I could not do it. They made me crack.
"Even though it's been three years since I said I wanted to leave, I find it hard to admit that it's over with this club - especially as I did not feel like this.
"But I could not see myself sitting on the bench to watch others play when the club plans to set up a new team.
"So that's it - I am preparing for my leap into the unknown. It's going to be another adventure."
A relatively late developer who only signed his first professional contract at 21, Drogba has scored 157 goals for Chelsea since joining from Marseille in 2004.
His final goals were the equaliser in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, and the winning spot-kick in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
Wayne Rooney will miss two to four weeks with a sprained ankle sustained during Manchester United's 2-1 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich, according to a report.
Sky Sports News claims the England striker will be available for the World Cup, despite leaving Bayern's Allianz Arena on crutches after turning awkwardly on his right ankle in the build-up to the home side's late winner.
However, it is a preliminary diagnosis as Rooney has not yet undergone a scan. United stayed the night in Munich after the game, and arrived back in the North-West on Wednesday afternoon. He will have a scan on Thursday,
If confirmed, the news will come as a massive relief to England coach Fabio Capello, with Rooney's presence in the squad seen as pivotal to the nation's World Cup chances.
However, it is a crushing blow to United's hopes of silverware, with the forward set to sit out a key phase of the season. Rooney will miss Saturday's top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Chelsea, and the return leg against Bayern.
He will also be a major doubt for the league games against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
After Tuesday night's game in Germany, Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It's too early to say. I don't think it's terribly serious, but we'll wait and see."
The injury occurred in the centre of the pitch after slight contact with Bayern striker Mario Gomez. Rooney went over on his ankle and leapt up in pain before collapsing to the turf in obvious discomfort.
Capello already has several injury headaches, with David Beckham ruled out of the World Cup with a ruptured Achilles tendon, while left-back Ashley Cole, striker Jermain Defoe and winger Aaron Lennon both face a race against time to recover from ankle, hamstring and groin issues respectively.
