Didier Drogba has given a detailed breakdown of Chelsea’s dramatic Champions League win against Bayern Munich eight years ago and says he nearly gave up hope until he got some words of encouragement from Juan Mata.
The Blues made an unlikely run to the final in 2012, with Andre Villas-Boas sacked midway through the season, but a stunning comeback against Napoli in the last 16 was soon followed by an incredible win over Barcelona in the semi-final.
That set up a clash with Bayern at the Allianz Arena in which the German champions dominated the contest and finally made a breakthrough in the 83rd minute through Thomas Muller.
Drogba says he had virtually given up when that goal went in, but was geed up by Mata and would head in the Spaniard’s cross to equalise moments later, going on to score the winning penalty in the shoot-out.
‘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,’ wrote Drogba on Twitter.
‘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 4-1 defeat 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 other for the same goal.
‘After that meeting I asked a young 23-year-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 eight years and never won it, so I believe you’re the one who is gonna help us win. I’ll even give you a present if we win it.” That was end of February.
‘Three months later, we were in Munich, in the final, in their stadium, submerged with a red wave.
@chelseafc
Happy 8th Birthday to US.
ððððððððð#theprideoflondon #ktbffh #munich2012 pic.twitter.com/zrGo28xli8— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 19, 2020
‘The hosts took the lead with eight minutes to go and on my way to kick the ball for the last eight 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 was gonna cry like a few months ago when I lost the final with the Ivory Coast.
‘Last minute, last corner, I mean first corner for us against eighteen for Bayern Munich. Guess who took that corner kick… Juan Mata. And the rest is history. The lesson is ALWAYS BELIEVE!’
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