Chelsea fans will love what Alexander Sørloth said about Didier Drogba | OneFootball

Didier Drogba is one of Chelsea’s greatest-ever players, and his influence extends beyond his playing days. Many of today’s footballers have spoken about how the Ivorian legend inspired them growing up, with some even modeling their game after him.

One such player is Alexander Sørloth. The Norwegian striker, speaking to FIFA at the end of last month, named Drogba as his footballing idol when asked about the strikers he looked up to as a youngster.

“Didier Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up, so he was by far my favorite striker. I liked the physicality of his play,” Sørloth said.

He continued, “Players could kick 50-meter-long balls to him, with snow on them, and he would still get it down and be dangerous. That’s one of the reasons I loved my goal last weekend (an equalizer against Celta Vigo on February 15), because that was like a Didier Drogba goal. He used to do that type of thing all the time.”

Chelsea fans always appreciate when current players speak highly of their legends, and Sørloth’s comments will certainly bring a smile to their faces. The striker currently plays for Atlético Madrid alongside former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, having joined the Spanish club in the summer. He has been in fine form this season, scoring 15 goals.

Sørloth is no stranger to Chelsea, having faced them during his time at Crystal Palace. However, his spell in the Premier League was far from memorable, he failed to score in 16 league appearances, though he did find the net once in the League Cup. Incidentally, one of his first games was against Chelsea which saw him have a goal ruled out.

The Norwegian could soon have another chance to face his childhood club, as both Atlético Madrid and Chelsea have qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer. Meanwhile, Didier Drogba was voted into 'Chelsea’s Team of 120' as part of the club’s 120th anniversary celebrations.