Premier League - Ancelotti: Drogba is a leader

Eurosport - Tue, 22 Sep 15:12:00 2009

Didier Drogba has re-established himself as one of the best strikers in the world and become a real leader at Chelsea, according to his manager Carlo Ancelotti.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Premier League Chelsea's Didier Drogba (left) and Tottenham Hotspurs' Sebastien Bassong - 0

The Italian compared the Ivorian to his former Milan team-mate Marco van Basten and said when he is on his game he is impossible to play against.

"There is a word in Italy: 'trascinatore'. It means the player that pulls the group together. Gennaro Gattuso was the trascinatore at Milan, John Terry is a trascinatore at Chelsea, but Drogba, too," Ancelotti told the Daily Mail.

"There are leaders that speak a lot, he can do this, but then he leads by example with the way he plays. This happened from the start for me. There was never a chance he would leave. He is far too important for us.

"I know some see him as a prima donna but the difference between a prima donna and a leader is a centimetre. The leader uses his talent for the team, the prima donna for himself, but Drogba has never been a prima donna for me.

"He reminds me of the great players, the way he has been this season. If he is feeling a good sensation about the game, if he is confident, he is impossible to play against.

"I used to play with Marco van Basten. I asked him how we should give the ball to him. He said, 'Just pass it, and then start running to congratulate me'. He always thought he would score, and he was usually right. When he is at his best, Drogba can be like that.

"I have never played with a stronger striker than Didier. Filippo Inzaghi at Milan was a smart guy, Andriy Shevchenko was strong, but not in the air, Hernan Crespo, Alessandro del Piero - Didier is different to them all. I think he is one of the best in the world right now. I would put him alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto'o but I would not swap him for any of them.

"Didier has it all. When you find a player who has talent and is unselfish: hai vinto. You've won."

Ancelotti, who took over at the start of the season, said he was frustrated by the language barrier in his early days at the club but is now able to communicate well with Chelsea's multi-national squad.

"When I first came there was too much distance between me and the players," he said.

"I like to joke with them, I like to speak with them - to me it is very important and I could not do that. Now we are closer. I think at first they considered me only as a boss and I did not have the language to break through.

"Sometimes you need to get after them with strong words, but it is more important to explain and resolve the problems on the field. So I don't throw tables: I talk.

"Only one time have they upset me and that was in a friendly match against Reading. We were losing 2-0 at halftime and I wanted to be angry but I didn't have the words to convey that emotion. It is hard to be angry in another language."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. I didn't have the words to convey that emotion. It­ is hard to be angry in another language."

    just­ say "Fxck ! Win it for me!" lol

    From Andrew leung, on Thu 24 Sep 10:32AM

  2. yes drogba is the great player....lol

    From RaJa, on Wed 23 Sep 8:26AM

  3. rafascrackingup..needs to be cracked over the­ head....drogba world class,chelsea have great chance of­ winning the league,will be intresting to see what­ happens when the
    african cup starts,and how chelsea­ will cope with-out drogba,essien,with out doubt very
    ­ vital to chelsea...UP THE BLUES..

    From walt jabasco, on Tue 22 Sep 6:39PM

  4. Drogba has always been my favorite Chelsea player after­ zola,
    but to be compared to Marco Van Basten, it is an­ honour. I totally agree with what Mr.Ancelotti said. I­ have never seen a striker who can defend for his team­ as Drogba did.
    He saved Chelsea several time in­ corners and Set pieces because he is good in the air as­ an Eagle in the sky.

    Thanks Ancelotti for taking­ Chelsea to a different level. You are doing a great­ job.

    Elias. Chelsea Till I Die.
    chelsea fan

    From King_Elias, on Tue 22 Sep 6:03PM

  5. Drogba has restablished himself? He has CONSISTENTLY­ been one of the top and feared strikers in the world­ since he burst into the limelight! Only injury last­ season slowed him down. And this comment is from a Man­ U fan! I wish he was at Old Trafford.

    From chisim, on Tue 22 Sep 4:23PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ancelotti: Drogba is a diver

    From rafascrackingup, on Tue 22 Sep 4:12PM

  7. Truth be told is an exceptional player, whether you­ dislike him or not doesn't change how good he­ is!
    Arsenal fan

    From Pen, on Tue 22 Sep 4:09PM

  8. Any word on his injury yet?

    From buymydrugs1, on Tue 22 Sep 3:58PM

  9. Drogba has restablished himself? He has CONSISTENTLY­ been one of the top and feared strikers in the world­ since he burst into the limelight! Only injury last­ season slowed him down. And this comment is from a Man­ U fan! I wish he was at Old Trafford.

    From chisim, on Tue 22 Sep 3:55PM

  10. I agree totally with this manager. Maybe managers of­ other teams should borrow a personality book form Mr­ Ancelotti. Besides what is a amanger if he/she cannot­ bring the best out of his player with respect and calm.­ I am sure this man is speaking from experience and­ skills to work with people from different places. Go­ Chelsea, win or lose your style will be engraved in the­ list of the best of best Teams in football. As long as­ Drgba is healthy, dives as protective mechanism vs­ aggressive adversay, I see no problem. Maybe people­ are going to far to suggest that to drive is wrong. ­ Referees know rule and have power to punish those who­ dive for penalty sake.

    From Jack C, on Tue 22 Sep 3:45PM

  11. Drogba is not just an Ace striker, he does his bit in­ defence too ! how many forwards track right back to­ help their keeper , & next minute are in a goal­ scoring position ! as for the diving thing , it all­ started in Italia 90 & has rubbed off over here , a­ very high percentage of players will make a meal of it­ (except players like Gary Liniker who always played by­ the book , & if im not mistaken he was never booked­ ? he is a top man) , its funny how a tackle always­ hurts more inside the box haha ! all teams are &­ have been guilty , its all on camera , so not fair to­ target one player, COME ON YOU BLUE BOYS !

    From Charlie, on Tue 22 Sep 3:33PM

  12. drogba doesnt dive. he goes down when touched and­ sometimes you think he should try to battle on but if­ he has any chance of getting the ball he battles for it­ knocking everyone out his way!

    I see nowhere spoke of­ gerrards diving again in the CL game. he is the worst­ in the world

    From yip, on Tue 22 Sep 3:14PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Drogba could be a great player but he lets himself down­ by diving and play acting, which makes him an­ idiot.!!!!

    From ayling.geoff, on Tue 22 Sep 2:05PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    And a Helmet

    From HelmetHunter, on Tue 22 Sep 1:47PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    All i can say is the following.
    1. Danny Murphy is a­ total ( O ( K H E A D!! Ignore what he writes on these­ other pages, he is a total phallus end, and doesn't­ have a jar of glue.
    2. Steve Bruce has the fattest head­ in English football, and he is the spitting image of a­ bulldog licking pi55 of a nettle.
    3. Alex Ferguson,­ sorry, SIR (hahahaha) Alex Ferguson, loves to take it­ from behind like a Phucket Chick Boy.
    4. Michael­ Owen's missus has cold sores on her ming3.
    5.­ Michael Owen has a ming3.
    6. Mark Hughes is, well,­ Welsh, nuff said!!
    7. Gary Megson has ginger­ pub3s.
    That's all really!
    Oh, and poontang, still a­ great word!!!!

    From lee.cooper21, on Tue 22 Sep 1:46PM

  16. santos buddy....i hope what u say comes­ true...Ancelotti is ur ideal battle hardened­ veteran.....lets hope he leads us bk to the­ title.....cheers to all my fellow Chelsea mates!

    From Rushad, on Tue 22 Sep 1:45PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What type of Leader??? Dogs leader!!!

    From jterry_lampard, on Tue 22 Sep 1:40PM

  18. Ancelotti knows he will reigh the EPL at this point. I­ say he will take the EPL.

    From santos, on Tue 22 Sep 1:26PM
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