‘Go to Mourinho’s trophy room, you’ll know if he is good or bad’

NEW DELHI: Encomiums are still pouring in for Didier Drogba, the Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker who called time on his 20-year 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.

Drogba also stamped his class in the dramatic 2012 Champions League win besides leading his country to all three of their World Cup finals. In India at the start of a campaign tour for sponsors Yokohama, Drogba in an interview defended Mourinho, under fire at Manchester United, and his defensive coaching style. He urged Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard, torn between staying on or chase his dream of winning European laurels in Spain, to stay at a club which needs him, and loves him. Excerpts: 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. There is more money, expectation, balance and results. A few years ago, who would have imagined a Ronaldo or Messi would score 50-60 goals in a season? This is amazing for football. I don’t understand how people can choose between the two. They are what makes football the most beautiful thing played … I will take them both. 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. People expect more. With Sarri, they are going back to that tranquility… Eden Hazard, coming back from World Cup, he is unbelievable. 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. Then it is up to him to decide what is good for him. 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. He is a great manager, smart guy, so he will find a way, for sure. first to say Mourinho is the nicest manager I had. At the same time he is the most demanding and challenging person as well. You need to find a balance between being nice and challenging people; that Mourinho knows how to do. We had some moments where we were disagreeing. It is football and in a family you disagree sometimes. The problem now is, there is so much attention, one little thing becomes a big drama. 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’. When you go to Mourinho’s trophy room, you will understand what kind of manager he is – good or bad.