His recent part might have only this week slipped out of Europeas initial club competition. However personally it's been a joy to watch the get back of Didier Drogba to the Champions League in the shades of Galatasaray. Although his absence was short-lived, having departed Stamford Bridge for China last summertime only to return to Europe in January to join the Turkish side, his return has been a pleasant reminder that the Ivorian striker still has something to offer at this elite level. Actually, it might well be argued that Drogba might have had an important role to play at his former club Chelsea in the present plan had he stayed on beyond last summer. This discussion is further strengthened by the existing lack of first group strikers available to the club, a scenario that could surely have now been possible by choosing to keep to the skilled 19 year old Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian international was sent on a mortgage to West Bromwich Albion in August with only a sporadic Fernando Torres and unfavoured Daniel Sturridge remaining as first group strikers at the club at the time. Chelsea did obviously reinforce their forward-line in January with the signing of Demba Ba from Newcastle United, as the largely un-fancied Sturridge left for Liverpool, however I canat help but wonder what influence Drogbaas presence and authority could have had on the season. Perhaps most interesting of all could have been Drogbaas working connection under Rafael Benitez, one which I could only imagine wouldnat have been without its difficulties on the way. Didier Drogba has always divided opinion and it could indeed be argued he's often deserved the criticism he's arrive at receive, but his purpose against Real Madrid in the second-leg of the Champions League quarter-final this week epitomised precisely what is good and great concerning the former Chelsea striker. His strength to hold off the 19 year old French centre-back Raphael Varane, and his composure to show the ball beyond Fernando Muslera in the Galatasaray purpose, caught in one amazing time the skills and attributes of a new player who must certainly be viewed as one of the more substantial to grace the Champions League phase over the past ten years. It wasn't the initial time Drogba had gotten the better of Varane and the Actual defense on the evening, his physical presence, strength and composure had been inducing the visitors a frustration through the sport, and by the time his purpose arrived it was necessary. Galatasaray went on to win the second-leg 3-2 on the night (eventually losing the overall wrap 5-3 on aggregate), and as has more often than perhaps not been the case with Madrid in this seasonas competition, Cristiano Ronaldo proved the important difference between the sides. However it wasn't Ronaldo and his goals at either end of the game which remained in my own ideas following the final whistle, but the moment of splendor supplied by Didier Drogba, offering a welcome indication that the powerful Ivorian remains an impressive talent capable of producing great moments, and is far from a force at the top degree of the game. Because it happens, his fellow countryman Emmanuel Eboueas equaliser on the night wasnat bad either.
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