Didier Drogba to be offered new Chelsea deal

03 June 2009 00:01
It had been thought that Chelsea might finally lose patience with Drogba after his petulant reaction to the Champions League semi-final defeat against Barcelona, but they have been impressed with the way he has subsequently responded. [LNB]New manager Carlo Ancelotti has also indicated that he wants to keep the 31 year-old who, when fit and focused, clearly remains one of the world's best forwards. [LNB] Related ArticlesKaka set to join Real MadridBallack extends Chelsea stayAncelotti will be a hit, says GerrardTen most expensive playersFA Cup final 2009: Chelsea must recreate Jose Mourinho era, says Guus HiddinkFA Cup final 2009: Chelsea win at Wembley highlight of my stay, says Guus HiddinkChelsea will offer improved terms on his existing £80,000-a-week contract, with Drogba expected to accept the deal. While Drogba's relationship with Luiz-Felipe Scolari became strained, he returned to something approaching his best form under Guus Hiddink, scoring Chelsea's first goal in the FA Cup final win against Everton on Saturday and spearheading the attack in the final months of the season. [LNB]Marseille and Inter Milan were monitoring developments but Drogba has also recently expressed a clear desire to remain with Chelsea. [LNB]"I believe the future of Chelsea will be splendid because we have created something for which, now, many want to come to Chelsea," he said. [LNB]"They know that when they come here, every year they have to fight to win trophies. This club was already historical but it will become even more so. I am very proud to be part of all of it and I want to stay here as long as they want me."[LNB]Chelsea's desire to keep Drogba will surprise some after injury and controversy interrupted his start to the season. [LNB]As well as the well-publicised outburst after the Barcelona defeat, Drogba picked up a suspension in November for throwing a coin back into a crowd of Burnley supporters that had been first hurled at him. [LNB]However, he quickly apologised for both incidents and has indicated that he will accept whatever punishment comes his way from Uefa for the Barcelona rumpus. "Luckily it doesn't happen often to me, but sometimes it happens that you lose control and do something which you regret as soon as the match finishes," he said. [LNB]Drogba has formed an impressive partnership over recent months as the central man in a three-prong attack with Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka. [LNB]"We have spent a lot of time together on the pitch in the last few months and automatically, we create an understanding. It's easy then to perform and win matches," he said. [LNB]''We know each other well. Flo and Nico are usually in the French team. Flo and me had a history in Guingamp. And with Nico, we respected already each other before we knew each other, and truly I can say we like to play together. Now it has got to the stage where we can be efficient. [LNB]"I'm not worried about my age or the decision of the club, I'm just worried about being happy in my life and at the moment I'm really happy where I am."[LNB]Chelsea have also agreed a one-year contract extension with Michael Ballack, while Joe Cole is due for negotiations on a new deal. [LNB] 

Source: Telegraph