Category: Football News

After a long period, the Ivory Coast supporters will get to see one of their legends Yaya Toure playing for the country again.

The playmaker’s name is there in the Ivorian team that will go head to head against Sudan in their AFCON qualifying match in a couple of weeks’ time.

Because of Toure keeping away from the international scenes, several kinds of talks were doing the rounds including the retirement rumours as well, but, the canny, old customer is back again proving everything wrong and showing that his journey is nowhere close to coming to an end just yet.

According to Michel Dusseyer, the current manager of the Ivorian national team, in the break, Toure made some assessments and set fresh targets for himself. Whilst at times over tha last season, the chance of Yaya returning has been longer than even the best racing odds UK, it now looks extremely likely that he will return.

In the words of Dusseyer, “Yaya gave every single bit of him to Ivory Coast in the last eight to ten years. Whether it was about contributing as a player or leading the side, he excelled in whatever was asked or expected off him and that’s why, it was not difficult to understand why he sought that break.

“He needed that for a bit of refreshment and also, for self-observation, to reflect on what he wanted to achieve from here on in. I believe he would definitely have his eyes set on another African title and then, maybe, if he makes it to World Cup too, it would only add to his achievements.”

Toure playing in the World Cup might not be that strong a prospect, but, he can surely be the centrepiece for Ivory Coast in the defence of their African crown in 2017.

The Sudan fixture will be Ivory Coast’s second in Group I. They have played one so far and have drawn that.

Didier Drogba could be dropped from the side as a result of his poor form against Blackburn Rovers. According to the Daily Mirror, the Italian hopes the move will be the catalyst for a revival in the striker’s goal scoring form.

When Ancelotti left the big Ivorian out of his starting line-up for the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur before Christmas, it sparked an angry respone from Didier Drogba who came on as a substitute to score.

Daniel Sturridge – fresh from his two goal effort against Ipswich in the FA Cup – is the most likely beneficiary of any plans to drop Drogba.

Didier Drogba represents the biggest threat for Arsenal in today’s clash at the Emirates. Didier Drogba has scored 13 goals in his last 13 matches against Arsenal and the Gunners simply do not seem to have an answer to the Ivorian’s pace and power. Drogba scored the opener when the sides met in October, in a 2-0 win for the Blues, and he is 6/1 at Free Bet to get the first of the game when Chelsea travel to the Emirates on Monday.

It is 2/1 with the same firm that the striker scores at any time against the Gunners and he can help Chelsea to get their title challenge back on track with a win over one of their nearest rivals Man City, at odds of 15/8 with Bet365.

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba is set to face Fulham despite having malaria, according to free bets uk. The 32-year-old, who began Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool on the bench after suffering a fever overnight, has started to use medication that should eradicate the illness within 48 hours.

Chelsea cannot say when Didier Drogba contracted malaria, which could have been in his system since the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in January. They are confident there will be no long-term effect on his fitness. Drogba complained of feeling unwell before going to Ivory Coast on holiday in the international window last month, though tests then did not show up the disease as there was insufficient parasitic activity in his blood at the time.

He was treated symptomatically thereafter, taking antibiotics to address regular bouts of fever. Tests taken after the match at Anfield revealed the presence of malaria.

Didier Drogba has said that key victories against Tottenham and the Manchester United will turn their season around. Chelsea have won just two matches out of the last eight in all competitions, a slump that threatens to end their hopes of retaining the league title they won, along with the FA Cup, last season.

Their implosion over the last few weeks has coincided with the removal of assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins, although boss Carlo Ancelotti insists his departure has nothing to do with the loss of form, especially now they’ve beaten Fulham.

The Blues now face Gareth Bale and Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday, Manchester United at home and Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, and Drogba insists that victories over all three could turn their season around.

“It’s not getting any easier because we have Tottenham next,” Drogba said. “Maybe everyone will expect us to lose on Sunday, but it could be different.

I see Tottenham as genuine title rivals now. They are having a good season and there is no reason why they can’t challenge. Chelsea used to beat them regularly but things change, that’s life, but it is up to us to make it happen again.

Carlo Ancelotti has said that the club has not received any bids for Didier Drogba. Club president Jean-Claude Dassier announced on Thursday that the French champions had attempted to bring the Ivorian striker back to Stade Velodrome before the transfer window slammed shut. Three fans even had £100 free bets on Drogba returning to France.

He claimed their advances were knocked back by Chelsea, who acquired Drogba for £24million from Marseille in 2004. Since then he has gone on to become one of the most fearsome frontmen in world football, collecting an enviable collection of honours along the way.

Didier Drogba is, however, now 32 years old and there had been talk over the summer that Chelsea may choose to cash in on him. Those reports were quickly played down by the Blues, who insist the African ace remains an integral part of their plans.

Chelsea star Didier Drogba has ruled out a possible move to Manchester City. Reports had claimed that the Ivorian was a target for other big clubs, with Manchester City mentioned as possible suitors, with the striker’s agent at one stage claiming the Citizens were interested in his client.

But Didier Drogba is intent upon helping the west London outfit to more success after last season’s Premier League and FA Cup double. Like most of the football betting world, he feels that City are again going to be up there.

“Every summer there is speculation, you saw me in a Chelsea shirt [on Sunday] and I think that is how you will see me all season!” Drogba told his club’s official website.

Meanwhile, the Ivorian is expecting City to play a part in this season’s title race and push for the top four places.

“We saw last year that Tottenham were there fighting for fourth place, Arsenal were there, so the Premiership will be more open, with Manchester City spending more money and buying quality players,” he explained.

Chelsea were the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline when they faced Manchester United in Sunday’s Community Shield at Wembley.

The result does not perturb Drogba too much though, with pre-season having started late for many of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad due to the World Cup.

“We are working hard, we have a lot of players who have trained for ten days or a week, it is too short to be fit and ready for big competitions but we have to improve our game even if we are not fit, and hope that in two or three weeks time it will be better,” he said.

“The match was disappointing of course but I am not really worried because it is only 10 days since we started working and we need more time together.

“I am disappointed because we lost the game, we had a few chances at the end but more than the defeat today it was important to see and understand that we are not ready yet.”

Chelsea Chief Executive Ron Gourlay has insisted that Didier Drogba is not for sale at any price.

In a press conference held in the Chelsea Hospitality lounge, Gourlay also dismissed speculation that talismanic striker Didier Drogba will be leaving the club in the summer, after Premier League rivals Manchester City were linked with a multi-million pound bid for the 32-year-old.

“Didier will be a Chelsea player next year. Didier is under contract,” Gourlay stated, while speaking to Sky Sports News.

“The thing about this time of year is we always get [this]. For our players to be in the news – it’s normal.

“But Didier Drogba will be a Chelsea player next year.”

With sales unlikely, Gourlay confirmed the club do have money to reinforce their double-winning squad.

Didier Drogba was back to its best against Bolton Wanderers in the Premier league and he helped Chelsea to win. Drogba paved the way for an emphatic 4-0 victory against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Monday night with a magnificent opening goal from 30 yards. Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Ramires also got in on the scoring act to hand the team their first win on the road since October.

England defender Terry highlights their attacking options – and having Drogba up and running again. It was his 10th goal of the campaign – he scored 37 last season – and Terry said: “I think he is over the malaria now. I have never had it myself but speaking to people and the doctor here, it does knock you for six.

Chelsea’s striker Didier Drogba was replaced by Fernando Torres against Fulham. The Blues signed the Spanish forward from Liverpool in January, breaking the British transfer record with a move believed to be in the region of £50 million.

The former AC Milan boss had played Nicolas Anelka, Drogba and Torres in his starting line-up against Liverpool, but the trio failed to make a significant impact in the game.

After the loss, Ancelotti had maintained that he would continue with all three forwards, but is now said to be considering the idea of dropping Drogba.

Chelsea are three points behind Tottenham – who currently occupy fourth place – but a victory over Fulham would see the Blues move into the Champions League qualifying spot.