Source: Telegraph
Didier Drogba still in love with Marseille
It is understood that Drogba, after receiving permission from Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, travelled by private jet to the function, to mark the 10th anniversary of the club's in-house television station, on Monday when the players had the day off. He returned later the same evening and reported for training with the rest of the first-team squad on Tuesday.[LNB]'It was inconceivable that I miss this [event],' he said. 'Everyone knows how much I am attached to this club and this city. There are many people that I like and my desire to see them was strong.'[LNB]He said that his adventure with Marseille, who he left for Chelsea in 2004, was 'unfinished', adding: 'It's hard to know if one day we will have the chance to finish this adventure, maybe in a better way. Nothing is impossible.[LNB]'It's tough for me to find the right words to explain the relationship between Marseille fans and me. I still love this club and it will never change, whatever happens.[LNB]'I always feel at home [here]. It's not necessarily the right moment for me to speak about a possible return. I have a lot of respect for Chelsea and as long as I'm under contract with them, I can't express myself. If something is made to happen, I don't know on which conditions, Marseille are going to have to contact Chelsea. I have not opened the door to a possible transfer, I've simply explained the situation. I have missed the last two games and I am keen to return to my best and play regularly.'[LNB]The interview was with the Marseille-based newspaper La Provence and, while the remarks are not dissimilar to past interviews and have not troubled the Chelsea hierarchy, the timing could have been better. Only last Friday, Scolari outlined his deep unhappiness at players having their heads turned by other clubs.[LNB]Drogba was dropped from the squads for Chelsea's past two matches, against Southend and Stoke City, with Scolari having told all his players that they should leave if they were not fully committed. As yet, Chelsea have received no offers for Drogba, while Scolari has indicated he might start the Ivorian against Ipswich on Saturday.[LNB]'It's a normal situation in the club because it is only a situation where for these two games I chose other players,' said Scolari. 'But maybe for next week Didier is together with the squad for the game against Ipswich. He doesn't have a problem with me and with the club. He is training very well and starting to build his condition again, not only his fitness but his technique too.'[LNB]Chelsea, meanwhile, are now likely to enter the transfer market this month following the loss for the rest of the season of midfielder Joe Cole, with Wigan's Antonio Valencia a potential target.[LNB]However, chief executive Peter Kenyon said that he would make only carefully targeted signings. 'This would dispel the idea that we have just bought our titles,' he said. 'We have taken sound financial decisions regarding trimming costs. We are not generally in the market for players at present as the best players are not usually available mid-season and it takes new players time to adapt.'[LNB]He added that Scolari 'has said consistently that he doesn't want random replacements if we can't get the players he identified. We are delighted not to be the richest club any more and other clubs may spend more without having as much success on the pitch'.[LNB]
