Ashley Young - £118,000 a week at Manchester United. Paul Pogba - £23,000 a week at Juventus. t.co/L5cZx03FT1 : Didier Drogba attended the FWAs Gala Tribute evening on Sunday The striker has been recognised for his contribution to football Jose Mourinho believes the £24m man is Chelseas best value player ever Drogba is in his second spell at Stamford Bridge after returning last year Jose Mourinho led the tributes to Didier Drogba on Sunday evening as the Chelsea striker was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the game by the Football Writers Association. The Blues boss hailed Drogba, who first joined Chelsea for £24million in 2004, as the clubs best value player ever as the Ivorian attended the FWAs Gala Tribute evening at the Savoy Hotel in London. Dressed smartly in a blue suit and bow tie, the veteran striker followed the likes of Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham by picking up the prestigious award. Speaking to the Football Writers Association , Mourinho said: I came to Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and in my first written report to Mr Abramovich in relation to my plans for the club, I gave the names of some players. Big names were arriving at Chelsea in that period. The previous summer, for example, Claude Makelele came from Real Madrid and Hernan Crespo came from Inter, among others, but Didier was unknown and the price was very, very high. Yet I knew as clearly as I have ever done that he was the player I wanted. I was very strong to persuade my club to pay such an amount for him and I think we can already say he was the best-value signing for Chelsea in relation to what he has done for the club over so many years, and he is not finished yet. Drogba has been recognised for his impressive performances on the pitch over the last 16 years and also his charity work away from it, with his foundation having funded many projects in his homeland of the Ivory Coast. The 36-year-old, who started in Chelseas shock 4-2 defeat by Bradford on Saturday, expressed his gratitude at being picked as this years recipient. Speaking in November last year, the former Marseille man said: It is an incredible honour. I have looked at the list of people who have been given this award and there are some of the most famous names in football on it. To be invited to join them is so special and I cant wait for the night. Mourinho also revealed that he counts Drogba as his favourite player, describing him as a phenomenal person. Mourinho added: Throughout my career, I have always refused to say which is my favourite player or the best person, because so many have given soul and blood to play and to fight with me, but if I have to choose one who represents all the good things you want in a player and a man, I think in this moment I would choose Didier. MOURINHO SPEAKS ABOUT DROGBA Didier arrived at Stamford Bridge for £24million, but he is probably the best-value Chelsea player ever, and I remember clearly how it happened. I came to Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and in my first written report to Mr Abramovich in relation to my plans for the club, I gave the names of some players. Big names were arriving at Chelsea in that period. The previous summer, for example, Claude Makelele came from Real Madrid and Hernan Crespo came from Inter, among others, but Didier was unknown and the price was very, very high. Yet I knew as clearly as I have ever done that he was the player I wanted. I was very strong to persuade my club to pay such an amount for him and I think we can already say he was the best-value signing for Chelsea in relation to what he has done for the club over so many years, and he is not finished yet. My story with him started after I got Marseille in my Champions League group when I was manager of Porto. Before we played against them, I travelled to Marseille to watch them play Paris Saint Germain and I was amazed with the potential I saw in him. When we played against them, I met him in the tunnel before the game and I told him, I dont have money to buy you, do you have a cousin like you who is lost in Ivory Coast? That was the first time that the big guy put his arm around me. He told me, In Porto, you dont have money to buy me, but if you move to another club where you do have money to buy me, then I will go with you. After the Champions League final with Porto at the end of that season, I moved to Chelsea and immediately began the process to sign him. Reflecting on our relationship, I have three moments in my mind that best characterise the man – because Didier the man is just as great as Didier the player. The first one was when I met him at Farnborough Airport when he was landing to sign for Chelsea. The way he hugged me, and the way he thanked me was not normal for a player towards a manager, immediately after signing for a new club. Chelsea were changing his life forever in that moment, and he knew that. The second moment was after we won the 2007 FA Cup at Wembley against Manchester United. The game finished and I went to the dressing room, leaving the players to enjoy the moment and to celebrate on the pitch. I was on the phone with my wife, when suddenly a big monster ran into the dressing room and told me that if I didnt come with the players, they wouldnt collect the cup. They would only go up there with me. I told him that I wanted the players to go and enjoy the moment together – that I didnt need to be there – and he said, We are only one. You can come by your will, or I will carry you there! The third moment was when I left Chelsea in 2007 and I saw the big man crying like a baby. So I can say that he is a phenomenal person, and I have also had the privilege to visit his country and to see what he means, not just to the people of Ivory Coast, but to so many African nations in that region. I know what he means as a player and as a person. That is why this combination of the player and the person is so amazing. Throughout my career, I have always refused to say which is my favourite player or the best person, because so many have given soul and blood to play and to fight with me, but if I have to choose one who represents all the good things you want in a player and a man, I think in this moment I would choose Didier.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:49:13 +0000
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