Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

‘Mourinho is the nicest manager I ever had’

- N Ananthanar­ayanan anantha.narayanan@htlive.com

NEW DELHI: Encomiums are still pouring in for Didier Drogba, the Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker who called time on his 20-year playing career this week. His bond with Jose Mourinho took The Blues to their peak with Drogba featuring in all four title won under the Portuguese’s stewardshi­p.

In India at the start of a campaign tour for sponsors Yokohama, Drogba in an interview defended Mourinho, under fire at Manchester United. Excerpts.

How do you look back at your career?

I won a lot of trophies, played with great players, learnt a lot. In the last two years, I’ve been trying to give back all this experience to young players in US (he co-owns second tier Phoenix Rising). I’m happy the way it ended. Football is evolving. A few years ago, who would have imagined a Ronaldo or Messi would score 50-60 goals in a season? This is amazing .

Surprised Maurizio Sarri has eased into the Chelsea job?

It’s not a surprise, or for that matter Chelsea (improving). Don’t forget two years ago it was the same Chelsea that won the league. Last season there was some tension, but that happens when you win the league. This season, due to the arrival of Sarri, they are going back to that tranquilit­y… Eden Hazard, coming back from the World Cup, he is unbelievab­le.

Hazard is considerin­g a move to Spain?

He knows people love him at Chelsea, how important it is to the team, club, organisati­on (he stays). Look, for a player like him, there will be a few offers. It means he is one of the greatest players now. Then it is up to him to decide what is good for him.

Can Mourinho turn things around in Man United?

Every manager or player who does not perform is under pressure (smiles). You deal with it, or you don’t, and he is actually trying to deal with it.I will be the first to say

Mourinho is the nicest manager I had. At the same time he is the most demanding and challengin­g person as well. The problem in football now is, there is so much attention, one little thing becomes a big drama. Because it is Mourinho, it’s multiplied by 10.

Mourinho is seen as refusing to change his defensive style, unlike Guardiola.

How many ways of playing is Guardiola having? Attacking. When Mourinho set up his game, everyone used to say ‘it is amazing what he is doing’. And when you are playing against him, he is stopping you from playing. People want to compare their different styles. When you go to Mourinho’s trophy room, you will know what kind of manager he is – good or bad.

Do you intend to emulate George Weah (exArsenal great, now Liberia president)?

George Weah chose this way to impact his people. I chose another which suits me very well, which is my foundation. I’m really happy, from opening a school last January to taking a mobile clinic everywhere in Ivory Coast to screen people and save them.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Drogba
HT PHOTO Drogba

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