Mourninho defends "diving" Drogba

Monday, 27, Mar 2006 09:55

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has jumped the defence of his Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, whose comments about diving have caused controversy.

After the reigning champions' 2-0 victory over Manchester City, the £24 million signing swiftly retracted an apparent admission that he dived to con referees.

Mourinho defended the scorer of both Chelsea's goals at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, saying: "Sometimes he is a player who doesn't get what he deserves, Drogba is a fighter."

Drogba was accused of feigning an injury to his eye during the match, after a clash with City defender Richard Dunne, a charge he denied.

The Chelsea boss responded to accusations, insisting that it is wrong to single out the striker for criticism.

He described the challenge by Dunne as "a big thing - it was a finger very strong in the eye which was completely full of blood.

"I am happy with him and we are happy to have a professional like him," Mourinho added.

The 28-year-old target man issued a statement to clarify that his comments had been misconstrued: "I want to make it clear that I don't dive, this was the intention of my answer," he announced.

Despite recent accusations of diving, as well as of hand ball in two consecutive Premiership games, Drogba has also found an unlikely ally in the form of Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.

In the opinion of the Gunners' manager, the striker is not an "unfair player" and feels - as does his Chelsea counterpart - that it is wrong to single him out.