Drogba's Gem

Generally speaking, they don’t do entertainment at Chelsea. As the Special One has pointed out on more than one occasion, it is not a priority – in fact most of the time it doesn’t even seem to be on the agenda at all, which is a sad thing for professional football at the highest level. Evidently, the only thing that counts is winning, grinding out results so that at the end of the season, a trophy can be produced as proof that Chelsea, who have the most money, have accumulated more points than their rivals – but unfortunately nothing else.

It is therefore reasonable to point out that the club’s fans pay a very high price for the relentless tedium of Chelsea’s own particular brand of success, achieved as it invariably is without any real joy. But once in a while, in amongst all the dross, there is a moment of pure magic and when that moment actually wins the game for Mourinho’s men, the irony is so powerful you can almost touch it.

On 17th September 2006, in the 41st minute of Chelsea’s clash with their bitter rivals Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard languidly crossed the ball from the right flank to the edge of the penalty area, and then something wonderful happened. Didier Drogba controlled it, swivelled and unleashed a shot of such power and accuracy that the Liverpool players, including their goalkeeper, could only watch as it flew into the net. It was, as things turned out, the match winning goal – and the only goal.

But far more than that, to anyone who loves the game more than they covet the silver trinkets that come into it, it was entertainment, pure entertainment – a piece of poetry from a player who has improved almost beyond belief.

The question is, what was it doing at Chelsea? And will he be punished for it?