Didier Drogba pleaded with Juan Mata to assist him in winning the Champions League with Chelsea, and Mata delivered in the final.
Chelsea’s 2011-2012 season was marked by ups and downs after Andre Villas-Boas was fired and replaced by Roberto Di Matteo.
And the Blues were on the brink of exiting the Champions League after losing 3-1 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie to Napoli.
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Drogba took to Twitter to discuss how players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Petr Cech stood up at a team meeting and said they were “partly accountable” for Villas-Boas’ dismissal.
In a series of tweets, the Chelsea legend, who retired from football in 2018, detailed his exchange with Mata.
“Eight years ago, the manager [sic] was fired by the club, and we, the players, had a team meeting where we recognised that we were partially to blame for his exit,” Drogba wrote.
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The captain [John Terry] spoke, [Frank Lampard] [Petr Cech] and other leaders in the group too.
“We decided to all give this competition everything, despite our defeat 4-1 against Napoli.
“We had been chasing this trophy for eight years and couldn’t do better than runner up. Everyone agreed to put egos aside and challenge each over [sic] for the same goal.
“After that meeting I asked a young 23 years old [Juan Mata] ‘please Maestro, help me win the champions league’ he looked at me like ‘man you’re crazy, you’re Didier Drogba you are gonna help me win it,’ I then told him I’ve been here for 8 years and never won it.
“[So] I believe you’re the one who’s gonna help us win. I’ll even give you a present if we win it, that was end of February.”
Eight years ago,
the Manager had been sacked by the club and we, the players had a team meeting where we recognised being partly responsible for his departure.
The captain @johnterry spoke, @franklampard @petrcech and other leaders in the group too.— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
We decided to all give this competition everything, despite our defeat 4-1 against Napoli.
We had been chasing this trophy for eight years and couldn’t do better than runner up.
Everyone agreed to put egos aside and challenge each over for the same goal.— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
After that meeting I asked a young 23 years old @juanmatagarcia “please Maestro, help me win the champions league “
he looked at me like “man you’re crazy, you’re Didier Drogba you are gonna help me win it,
I then told him I’ve been here for 8 years and never won it— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
on my way to kick the ball for the last 8 minutes I was so discouraged, the young man said to me “believe Didi, you have to believe” , almost in tears I answered after looking at the time score “believe in what? It’s almost over,
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
I’m gonna cry like a few months ago when I lost the final with Côte d’Ivoire.
Last minute, last corner, I mean first corner for us against eighteen for Bayern Munich.
Guess who took that corner kick… @juanmatagarcia and the rest is history.
The lesson is ALWAYS BELIEVE !!!!— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
Chelsea completed a strong comeback against Napoli in the second leg and went on to defeat Bayern Munich in the final.
At the Allianz Arena, Thomas Muller scored in the 83rd minute, and Drogba confessed that he was “so discouraged.”
But Drogba would cross paths with Mata on the pitch again, and the Spaniard told him to believe as Drogba was on the verge of crying.
“Three months later, we were in Munich, in the semi, in their stadium, engulfed in a red wave,” Drogba tweeted.
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| Image credit: PA |
“The hosts took the lead with 8 minutes to go and on my way to kick the ball for the last 8 minutes I was so discouraged, the young man said to me ‘believe Didi, you have to believe’, almost in tears I answered after looking at the time score ‘believe in what? It’s almost over.’
“I’m gonna cry like a few months ago when I lost the final with Cote d’Ivoire. Last minute, last corner, I mean first corner for us against eighteen for Bayern Munich.
“Guess who took that corner kick… [Mata] and the rest is history. The lesson is ALWAYS BELIEVE!!!!”
@chelseafc
Happy 8th Birthday to US.
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙#theprideoflondon #ktbffh #munich2012 pic.twitter.com/zrGo28xli8— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
Drogba linked with a strong header past Manuel Neuer just minutes after Mata whipped in a corner.
Chelsea won the shootout 4-3 on penalties, with only the Manchester United midfielder missing his spot-kick attempt for the Blues.