Didier Drogba Bares All In Honest Interview

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has given an honest and open interview to Chelsea TV, discussing why he wanted to leave Chelsea and that fateful night in Moscow.

One of the questions hanging over Chelsea last season surrounded the future of the Ivorian striker, and Drogba admits that he did want to leave.

"In November when I made an article saying I wanted to leave, I had my reasons when I was saying that," Drogba recalled during the exclusive interview with Chelsea's official television channel, Chelsea TV.

"It didn't change anything in terms of the way I was playing. It was a boost for me to speak and say what I was feeling because I needed to do it and I think everybody understood what I was trying to say, and respected me for what I said.

"After that I gave everything I could, because playing injured is not easy and I did it, so nobody can say this guy was not part of the club's future or life."

Then came Moscow.

While many fans thought Drogba would leave after what transpired that night, Drogba reveals that it made his mind up to stay.

"Then came the end of the season and a lot of speculation, and because of this article everybody said I was going to leave.

It was in my head but at the same time, to lose the Champions League Final, to leave the club without winning anything [that season], and since I am here I created a fantastic relationship with some players. My family is happy here, I am happy in London."

"From the Champions League Final, maybe before, I knew what I was doing the year after. I didn't need to speak because I have two more years [on my contract], I didn't need to speak to say I was staying or leaving. When you have a contract you have to respect it, I signed two years ago and am really happy with it."

Clearly, Drogba wants to win trophies, and the Champions League remains a key objective.

'It has been two years when we don't touch the [Premier League] trophy. You realise what we did two years before was fantastic and amazing and you want to win the League again. But the Champions League is I think for this season one of the main objectives."

Drogba then went on to discuss aspects of the match itself.

His shot that hit the post—which probably would have won the game had it gone in—left him "really down", because there wasn't many other clear cut chances.

But what will always be remembered is his slap on Vidic, which resulted in a straight red card and denied Chelsea a potential penalty taker.

Drogba was ready to take a penalty, and he defended his actions, putting it down to frustration and emotion.

"I was really disappointed, maybe some people didn't understand. I was disappointed not to be in the penalty shootout. It is more difficult than seeing the red card, to leave the pitch like this, especially in front of our fans. That was for me a big chance to win the Champions League."

"I think I was frustrated because of the way the game was going and I was emotional," he said, referring to his slap on Nemanja Vidic.

"How can you not be emotional in this kind of game? Of course this is something I shouldn't have done but I think it was made more than it was. I don't think it was a red card, maybe a yellow. I went to the dressing room, praying my friends could do it."

The rest, as they say, is history, but Drogba will feel he still has time to write quite a few more chapters yet.

To read more of the interview, where Drogba describes his trouble settling in at the club upon his arrival in 2004 and the departure of Jose Mourinho, check the Chelsea TV listings, or read a write up of the interview here.