'Old' Drogba rejuvenates heroic Chelsea

Ivorian striker Didier Drogba proves his critics wrong with an epic performance against Barcelona at the Nou Camp Tuesday

At the age of 34, Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has proven to be Chelsea's deadliest weapon in their quest for the 2012 UEFA Champions League title.
With an eye-catching performance, Drogba scored the winner at Stamford Bridge and produced an amazing physical effort inspiring his teammates to a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou to eliminate defending champions Barcelona.
The Blues striker made runs up and down the flanks to haunt the Catalans' defence and block flying winger Daniel Alves from his usual spark on the right flank.
Returning from a knee injury just a couple of days ahead of the clash, Drogba made way for Fernando Torres on 80 minutes.
The England giants survived the dismissal of captain John Terry and a two-goal deficit to make an amazing fightback through strikes by Ramires and Torres.
"In football the most important thing is to win the game. You don't win the game with possession. Of course we defended but we scored goals as well and I think we deserved to qualify," the striker said after the match.
Old Drogba has more to deliver
Midway through the second half, Didier made a brilliant solo effort combining his talent, stamina and power. The imposing striker dispossessed youngster Isaac Cuenca before overlapping Carlos Puyol then fired from more than fifty yards forcing keeper Victor Valdes to stretch denying the goal.
Contrary to what has been said recently about the Elephants' all-time top scorer, Drogba proved his physical abilities would help him star for another season or two with the Blues.
The holder of three Premier League trophies was being linked with moves to Russia or China early this year after a serious injury sidelined, leading some to insist that “Drogba won't be the same again.”
Scoring 100 goals with Chelsea in 221 appearances since he joined in 2004, Drogba's contract expires this summer and he hasn't inked a new deal yet.
"For those who said that I was too old, they saw that I could run maybe one, two or three more years," the African footballer of the year 2006 and 2009 said last week when he scored the winner at Stamford Bridge.
Tito, as his mother used to call him back in Abidjan, after President Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Drogba was doubtful for the Camp Nou match after sustaining a third-degree grass burn but he joined the starting eleven and exhausted Barca's backline.
"We are very happy because we qualified but we keep our feet on the ground because some of our best players (John Terry, Raul Meireles, Branislav Ivanovic, and Ramires) are not going to be there for the final – so the final will be difficult but we are going to try to do it for them.”
Under the guidance of interim coach Roberto Di Matteo, Drogba inspired an aging Chelsea team to save their season after a disastrous start to their campaign.
"Everybody says it is a difficult season but we are in the FA Cup final and the Champions League final now and I think everybody would love to be in our situation in two very big finals."
Now with the titles at their mercy, all the money will be on Drogba to collect them.
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