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CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba wishes he had PUNCHED Nemanja Vidic in the Champions League Final.
The Ivory Coast striker was sent off in the 117th minute for slapping the Manchester United defender – but now says that, if he knew he was going to get a red card, he would have hit the Serbian harder.
Drogba, 30, had clashed with Vidic 18 months earlier, cutting his eye and loosening a tooth.
And he said: “I have seen the match on video and I believe I should not have been sent off with three minutes to go.
“If I had punched him, I would have understood. Now I wish I had.â€
Drogba's red card prevented him from taking a penalty in a dramatic shoot-out.
John Terry missed the spot-kick that would have earned Chelsea their first
Champions League triumph and, when Nicolas Anelka also missed, United went on to make it a hat-trick of European triumphs.
But Drogba has more regrets about losing the final than being red-carded.
He said: “You have a lot of regrets when you go to the final and lose it.
“I have more regrets about losing the final than being sent off.
“The team was affected by the sending off and we lost on penalties.
“But it wasn't the worst feeling. Hitting the post was. I wasn't feeling well because I was playing alone and against world-class defenders.
“When you get a chance like that you have to take it.
“Some Chelsea fans blame me for losing. I can take it but I think I gave my best, as I always do, because I want to be No.1. Sometimes I want that too much.
“I apologised to my friends. People can make mistakes.â€
But Drogba is now promising to stay at Chelsea to fulfil unfinished business.
He added: “It's redemption time. Another reason for me to stay.
“You have got to understand what the Champions League means to me.
“I came from a poor part of the world, then moved to France.
“I was about 17, playing with Le Mans and I would sit with my friends in front of a TV, eating pizza and seeing players like Raul.
“I wanted to be part of it – the music of the competition motivated me.
“I just want to win the trophy, pay off a debt.
“I have been here four, five years now and I have seen the improvement.
“Getting to the final again is another reason why I want to stay.â€
In his autobiography – the English version of which was launched at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, with all the money from sales going to his Foundation to help children from Africa – Drogba pulls no punches when talking about his ambitions.
He writes: “Scolari made it clear he wanted me to stay. I told him I am staying. There is no need to worry, I am staying.â€
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/55237/Drogba-I-wish-I-had-stuck-one-on-Vidic/
The Ivory Coast striker was sent off in the 117th minute for slapping the Manchester United defender – but now says that, if he knew he was going to get a red card, he would have hit the Serbian harder.
Drogba, 30, had clashed with Vidic 18 months earlier, cutting his eye and loosening a tooth.
And he said: “I have seen the match on video and I believe I should not have been sent off with three minutes to go.
“If I had punched him, I would have understood. Now I wish I had.â€
Drogba's red card prevented him from taking a penalty in a dramatic shoot-out.
John Terry missed the spot-kick that would have earned Chelsea their first
Champions League triumph and, when Nicolas Anelka also missed, United went on to make it a hat-trick of European triumphs.
But Drogba has more regrets about losing the final than being red-carded.
He said: “You have a lot of regrets when you go to the final and lose it.
“I have more regrets about losing the final than being sent off.
“The team was affected by the sending off and we lost on penalties.
“But it wasn't the worst feeling. Hitting the post was. I wasn't feeling well because I was playing alone and against world-class defenders.
“When you get a chance like that you have to take it.
“Some Chelsea fans blame me for losing. I can take it but I think I gave my best, as I always do, because I want to be No.1. Sometimes I want that too much.
“I apologised to my friends. People can make mistakes.â€
But Drogba is now promising to stay at Chelsea to fulfil unfinished business.
He added: “It's redemption time. Another reason for me to stay.
“You have got to understand what the Champions League means to me.
“I came from a poor part of the world, then moved to France.
“I was about 17, playing with Le Mans and I would sit with my friends in front of a TV, eating pizza and seeing players like Raul.
“I wanted to be part of it – the music of the competition motivated me.
“I just want to win the trophy, pay off a debt.
“I have been here four, five years now and I have seen the improvement.
“Getting to the final again is another reason why I want to stay.â€
In his autobiography – the English version of which was launched at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, with all the money from sales going to his Foundation to help children from Africa – Drogba pulls no punches when talking about his ambitions.
He writes: “Scolari made it clear he wanted me to stay. I told him I am staying. There is no need to worry, I am staying.â€
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/55237/Drogba-I-wish-I-had-stuck-one-on-Vidic/
