Di Matteo praises Drogba

22 April 2012 - 02:43 By Henry Winter
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Such is the intensity of the debate over the theatrics of Ashley Young and Didier Drogba that some bright TV spark will surely consider filming a footballing Antics Roadshow, assuming they can get the idea off the ground.

Didier Drogba of Chelsea gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2011 in London, England
Didier Drogba of Chelsea gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2011 in London, England
Image: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Didier Drogba of Chelsea gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2011 in London, England
Didier Drogba of Chelsea gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2011 in London, England
Image: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Hours after Alex Ferguson revealed he had "had a word" with Young, Roberto Di Matteo was forced to defend Drogba after some clever statistician calculated that the Ivorian was guilty of six minutes' time-wasting against Barcelona on Wednesday.

"Listen, you know how many times we were behind and other teams wasted time against us?'' countered Chelsea's interim coach. "Many times. Every team does it. Let me tell you, Barcelona do it as well. Drogba was very helpful to the team. He gave us an outlet and scored a vital goal. I was very pleased with him. He was marked most of the time by two men and got a physical battering."

Di Matteo said he would not be following Ferguson's example with Young and having a similar chat with Drogba. "No, because I don't see any reason for a conversation like that. Our players are fair players.''

On diving, the Italian acknowledged that some action was required. "It's part of our game that we should try to eradicate. It's unfair. Most players don't dive. There has lately been a few issues but there have been in previous seasons.'' - ©The Daily Telegraph

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now