Drogba vows to bounce back

Striker still haunted by behaviour against Barca

Last updated: 8th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Drogba vows to bounce back

Drogba: Regrets behaviour

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is determined to return stronger from his European suspension.

Drogba has been banned for six matches, with the final two games deferred for a probationary period of two years, following his antics against Barcelona.

The 31-year-old angrily confronted referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League semi-final tie.

He was furious that the Blues had been eliminated on away goals after Andres Iniesta's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge, arguing that Ovrebo should not have turned down a number of penalty appeals.

Drogba admits he is still haunted by memories of what happened and accepts that the negative reaction to his outburst was justified.

He is ready to serve his punishment but then hopes to make amends by helping Chelsea to finally claim an elusive Champions League title.

"I've had my share of criticism in the past and my behaviour against Barcelona is still bothering me very much because it was not right," Drogba said in the Daily Mirror.

"I will do my suspension and after that I will come back stronger."