More Locker Room Material for Drogba

Nemanja Vidic may have been a bit busy with a Champions League semifinal of his own a few weeks back, but he should have been paying a little attention to the other one as well. Before the second leg of the semi between Chelsea and Liverpool, Rafa Benitez lashed out at Didier Drogba with allegations that for his size, Drogba seemed to go down surprisingly easily. Drogbacite replied with two goals to shut down Liverpool and send Rafa home from his last chance for trophies on the season. The lesson here: Whether he dives or not, he can hurt you if he wants to, and the last thing you want to do is get him personally invested in a result by insulting him. Apparently, it’s a lesson Vidic slept through.

Vidic came out today with a familiar comment on Drogba’s style, saying “Sometimes he goes in very strong, and sometimes he pretends he is very weak.” It’s almost indistinguishable from Rafa’s quote before the semi, “He is amazing because he is massive [yet he goes down]. It’s very impressive.” The question now is whether it will have the same effect in the Champions League final. Unlike Benitez, Vidic doesn’t have the luxury of watching Drogba from the sideline. If the Ivorian striker has his day and punishes Manchester United the way he punished Liverpool, he will do it by coming straight at Nemanja Vidic in the central defense. Man United fans have to hope that on this ultimate European stage, the talented Serb will be able to defend as well as he talks. All season, he’s done very well alongside Rio Ferdinand, but this might be his toughest test to date, and he might have just made it significantly harder on himself.

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Category: Champions League