Bayern Munich vs Chelsea preview - Drogba: I'm not an actor - 7M sport

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea preview - Drogba: I'm not an actor



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Posted Saturday, May 19, 2012 by PA

Didier Drogba denied he was an "actor" after seemingly being branded one by Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes.

Heynckes claimed earlier on Friday afternoon that Chelsea striker Drogba sometimes "overdoes it a bit", adding: "Sometimes he's an outstanding actor on the pitch."

Bayern later moved to blame a mistranslation, insisting the word "actor" should have been "performer".

But the damage was done and asked whether he was an actor, Drogba said: "As far as I know, no. They (Bayern) have a great manager with a lot of experience. I have a lot of respect for him and that's all I can say."

Pressed further if he was an actor, he added: "Oh, no, I don't think so. No, no, no."

Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern could be Drogba's final game in a Chelsea shirt, with the striker's contract set to expire this summer.

Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay revealed after the FA Cup final that the club would attempt to sit down with Drogba at the end of the season.

Drogba confirmed he would listen to what they had to say.

"We'll sit down with him and we're going to talk," said the 34-year-old, who rubbished rumours he had been in talks with Barcelona.

"There are a lot of rumours about me being offered to Barcelona. It's not true. It's not true."

He added: "No matter what happens, everybody's talking a lot about 'last game'.

"I'm just happy because we're again in the Champions League final.

"Nobody expected us to be there at the beginning of the season but I think we did everything to reach the finals."

Heynckes insisted Roberto Di Matteo should be given the Chelsea job full-time, regardless of the outcome of Saturday's showpiece.

Caretaker Blues boss Di Matteo will pit his wits against Heynckes at the Allianz Arena this weekend in what could be his last match in charge.

Di Matteo has admitted he does not think becoming the first manager to lead Chelsea to European Cup glory would make any difference to his hopes of being kept on permanently.

Were Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to jettison him, he would become only the second man to lose his job immediately after winning the Champions League.

Heynckes was the first, having left Real Madrid after their 1998 triumph, and he saw no reason why Di Matteo should suffer the same fate.

The 67-year-old had nothing but praise for the sensational rescue act his opposite number had performed since replacing the sacked Andre Villas-Boas.

Heynckes said: "We must not forget that he has brought Chelsea all the way to the final with a very calm attitude.

"It seems he's a very cool person who's very much in control.

"Step by step, he's improved contact with the players and created harmony. That harmony can be felt.

"He's done a marvellous job and I can't see why whether he winsor not would have consequences. You need continuity.

"I don't think there's any argument against him continuing."

Heynckes claimed he had no problem with his own demise at Real, claiming he would have jumped had he not been pushed, and insisted he understood why Abramovich might want to appoint a manager who had won multiple titles.

But he added of Di Matteo: "He makes an excellent impression on me and, if I was Abramovich, I would continue with this young man."



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