LONDON - Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari insists he won’t punish Didier Drogba despite claims that the Ivorian striker met with Inter Milan officials last week.
Drogba was reported to have held a meeting with Inter sporting director Marco Branca and Jorge Mendes, agent of the club’s manager Jose Mourinho, over a possible move to the Serie A champions.
The 30-year-old was linked with a host of clubs in the close-season, fuelling speculation that he was keen to quit Stamford Bridge, and this latest report could have been interpreted by Scolari as another attempt to engineer a move. But the Blues manager has no intention of calling Drogba in for showdown talks.
Scolari believes Drogba, who was suspended for yesterday’s clash against Arsenal, remains committed to the Premier League leaders and the Brazilian was at pains to make it clear there would be no retribution for the Inter link.
“I don’t know (about a meeting with Inter).
He has my support every day. Injured or not injured. I’m sure he’s 100 per cent committed to the club. My relationship with him is very good, Scolari on Drogba.
“Every minute in the day, I think he’s happy. Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world and gives us what we need. For me as a coach. For the players. The players in the youth team and reserve team have the same treatment as those in the first-team. None of my players are ‘star names’. All of them are stars for me. They are like sons to me. I am their father. Black, white, blue, yellow.”
Drogba, currently banned for his coin throwing clash with Burnley fans, was left on the bench for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League draw against Bordeaux but Scolari is adamant he was not making a point to the player.
“Drogba has had four months of injury, but he’s training now,” Scolari said. “When he is in good condition, then he has a problem with the FA and that’s three more games out. I’ll try to play him when he’s back from suspension.”
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