Football
ESPN staff 9y

Didier Drogba coy on Chelsea future after Premier League title win

Didier Drogba has refused to be drawn on his future at Chelsea beyond the end of the season after winning his fourth Premier League title with the club.

Drogba, 37, returned to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer last summer as part of a complete overhaul of the Chelsea strikeforce and, given recent injuries to Diego Costa and Loic Remy, he has been forced into regular action over the last few weeks.

The Ivorian, who has scored four goals in the Premier League this season, had said last month that he had already decided his future and would continue playing next season, but he remained coy over his plans after the club clinched the title with Sunday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Asked about his future, he told Sky Sports he was planning "a good rest, a good celebration ... and that's it."

On how this Premier League success compared with the three he enjoyed in his first stint with Chelsea, he added: "I think I prefer to live with the present and this one is sweet, this one is sweet also.

"With me or without me, Chelsea will always be number one. I'm happy that I'm part of this but Chelsea is bigger than me and they will always win."

Jose Mourinho has suggested he will look to freshen up his attack in the summer, saying ahead of Sunday's game: "The group of the strikers did very well for us, but I just imagine that it is something we can do in a different way."

The Portuguese said last week that any decision on Drogba would be down to the player and club owner Roman Abramovich but indicated that he would be welcome to stay on.

He said: "I didn't speak with him [Drogba]. I think it belongs to him: what he feels, what he thinks.

"This is a club thing. This is a Mr Abramovich thing. Mr Abramovich wants him to do what he wants in the club, but it's something Mr Abramovich has to tell him.

"He has to decide, but, obviously, he belongs to the history of this club. These guys are special players."

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