• Premier League

Di Matteo won't talk to Drogba about antics

ESPN staff
April 20, 2012
Didier Drogba will not be reprimanded by Roberto Di Matteo © Getty Images
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Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo will not be talking to Didier Drogba about his conduct, despite the striker's antics in Wednesday's Champions League victory over Barcelona.

Drogba scored the decisive goal for his side to give them a handy lead going into the second leg of the semi-final, but attracted almost equal attention for some of his histrionics throughout the 90 minutes - going to ground after almost every foul as one newspaper estimated his injury breaks wasted nearly seven minutes of game-time for his side.

Di Matteo, however, did not see anything wrong with Drogba's conduct when asked about it - offering his opinion that the Ivorian dealt with the physical attention he received all game appropriately.

"I don't see any reason why I should have a conversation like that [with Drogba]," Di Matteo said. "Our players, I think, are fair players. Everybody has his own style but I think we are a fair team."

The Italian added: "He was marked most of the time by two men and I think got a lot of physical battering as well on the night. We have to be objective about our opinions as well."

Drogba will not play in Saturday's important Premier League game against Arsenal, due to a minor injury he picked up in one of the incidents at Stamford Bridge.

"We have to assess him ... and how he recovers," Di Matteo noted. "He got pushed and kicked around quite a lot in the game on Wednesday."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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