Player who is now set for long run of Chelsea starts names 'The Drogba period' as inspiration

So many Chelsea players who are joining the club of late always mention Didier Drogba as an influence or an inspiration to their decision to join Chelsea and why they already had a love for the club.

That period at Chelsea was simply unreal, and I guess at the time maybe we didn’t appreciate just how unique it was.

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It influenced and inspired a generation of young people at the time who are now at an age where they are playing regular senior football themselves. That period has certainly helped Chelsea capture a number of their big new signings over recent years.

Right back Malo Gusto is now set for a run of starts once again after Reece James suffered yet another long term injury, and he is the latest player to mention Drogba and that period as a heavy influence for him when he was younger and just getting into playing football.

Gusto told the Chelsea website: “When I was younger I used to watch Chelsea games with my dad. So to be here now is a pleasure. It’s great.

“I’ve got a lot of memories of Chelsea. The Drogba period had a big influence on me as a kid, and, more recently, I remember watching the Champions League win in 2021.

“I’ve always said Chelsea is a really big club and I think back to watching the big matches against Barcelona, especially the famous one in 2012. I hope now that Chelsea can continue to be such a big club going forward.”