His recent area could have just this week dropped out of Europeas leading team competition. But personally it has been a pleasure to watch the reunite of Didier Drogba to the Champions League in the colors of Galatasaray. Although his absence was short-lived, having departed Stamford Bridge for China last summer only to return to Europe in January to join the Turkish side, his return has been a pleasant reminder that the Ivorian striker still has something to supply as of this elite level. In fact, it might well be argued that Drogba might have had an important role to play at his former club Chelsea in the current campaign had he kept on beyond last summer. This argument is further strengthened by the existing lack of first team strikers offered to the membership, a situation that could surely have already been made easier by electing to keep on to the talented 19 year old Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian global was sent on a mortgage to West Bromwich Albion in August with only a sporadic Fernando Torres and unfavoured Daniel Sturridge outstanding as first team strikers at the club at the time. Chelsea did obviously improve their forward-line in January with the signing of Demba Ba from Newcastle United, while the generally un-fancied Sturridge left for Liverpool, however I canat help but wonder what influence Drogbaas reputation and control might have had on their season. Perhaps best of all could have been Drogbaas working partnership under Rafael Benitez, one which I can only picture wouldnat have been without its difficulties along the way. Didier Drogba has often divided opinion and it can certainly be suggested he's generally deserved the criticism he has arrived at receive, but his purpose against Real Madrid in the second-leg of the Champions League quarter-final this week epitomised precisely what is good and great about the former Chelsea striker. His power to hold off the 19 year old French centre-back Raphael Varane, and his composure to flick the ball beyond Fernando Muslera in the Galatasaray target, taken in one amazing moment the skills and qualities of a player who must certainly be considered as one of the more substantial to grace the Champions League phase over the past a decade. It wasn't the initial time Drogba had gotten the better of Varane and the Actual defence on the night, his physical presence, energy and composure had been inducing the guests a frustration throughout the game, and by the time his target came it was well deserved. Galatasaray went on to get the second-leg 3-2 on the evening (eventually losing the total tie 5-3 on aggregate), and as has more frequently than perhaps not been the case with Madrid in this seasonas opposition, Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated the important difference between the sides. Nevertheless it wasn't Ronaldo and his targets at either end of the game which remained within my thoughts following the final whistle, but the moment of splendor provided by Didier Drogba, offering a welcome indication that the strong Ivorian is still an impressive ability capable of developing great moments, and is far from a force at the very top level of the game. Because it happens, his fellow countryman Emmanuel Eboueas equaliser on the night wasnat bad either.
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