Drogba - I lost my passion

Striker says he 'lost his fire' for the game over the summer

Last updated: 29th December 2008

Drogba - I lost my passion

Drogba: Lost his fire

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has admitted that he lost his passion for football over the summer.

The Ivory Coast international endured a troubled end to last season, including being sent off in the UEFA Champions League final defeat to Manchester United and also being criticised by fans for not trying hard enough.

The Blues ended the season empty-handed and Drogba admits he started to lose interest in the sport.

He told France Football: "This summer, I didn't have a head for football anymore. I had completely lost my fire.

Completely extinguished

"I didn't want to hear talk of objectives or ambition anymore. I felt completely extinguished.

"For the first time in my career, I lost my passion for football. I was lost.

"Last season could have been terrific and spectacular, in the end it was just a good season which left quite a few regrets."

Drogba has also faced testing times this season as he has struggled with injury and disciplinary issues and has had to play second fiddle to Nicolas Anelka at Stamford Bridge.

But the 30-year-old insists he is happy to bide his time, although he does not understand why the pair are not played together more.

Keep quiet

"For the moment, I just have to keep quiet," he said. "It's not because I've been here for more than four years that I have the right to have demands on a status of starter.

"At the moment there is a man who is scoring and who is piling up goals. I only have to wait my turn.

"I have always said that I was happy that Nicolas came to Chelsea. But I still don't understand why coaches are scared to play us together."

Drogba has been linked with a move to rejoin former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan in January, which both the Portuguese coach and Italian giants have denied.

But the Ivorian himself remains coy about his future, saying: "I'm going to let myself be carried by events.

"I could plant myself here, but I have the impression that in 2009, good things will happen for me.

"Without doubt there will also be surprises."