Vidic accuses Drogba

United star hopes for strong officials

Last updated: 18th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Vidic accuses Drogba

Vidic: Hurt in Drogba clash

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Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has accused Didier Drogba of being a diver ahead of their UEFA Champions League final clash.

Vidic will lock horns with Drogba in Wednesday's showpiece in Moscow and the United ace hopes the officials will be aware of the striker's theatrics.

The giant Serbian Vidic believes Drogba exaggerates fouls to make defenders think twice before challenging him in the penalty area.

Pretends

"Sometimes he [Drogba] goes in very strong and sometimes he pretends he is weak. He plays with your mind and tries to make the defender think about the next tackle," Vidic told The Sunday Times.

"He can pretend he fell down to win a penalty, but referees know that. The Champions League final is a big game and I'm sure the ref will know his job.

"He's a great player and he's a top scorer. It's a hard job to stop him."

Vidic has already suffered at the hands of Drogba this season after being stretchered off with concussion during United's defeat at Stamford Bridge when Drogba accidentally kneed him in the head.

No blame
Vidic says he bears no grudges against Drogba following the clash which left him injured.

"He went for the ball and I don't think he wanted to kick me. It's in the past and I don't think about what happened in the past," added Vidic.

"I don't know if he said sorry. I remember nothing from those first five seconds after it happened, but he didn't need to apologise. When a player doesn't mean to kick me yet it happens, I understand that."