Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has publicly backed PSG ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal.
The Ivorian attended the UNFP award ceremony on Monday evening where he was honoured with the “Citizen Player” award for his charitable foundation’s work.
During his acceptance speech, the Ivorian set aside his long-standing connection with Marseille to congratulate PSG on their European campaign and wish them well in Budapest.
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“As a Marseille fan, I wanted to congratulate the PSG players for what they do for French football,” Drogba said.
“This proof of humility, their values, we recognise all of this in ourselves that they transmit to European and World football.
“Good luck to you for this second final. All the best.”
Gunners fans won’t be losing sleep over it but the comments garnered notable attention in France given the animosity between Marseille and PSG.
Arsenal fans won’t be too concerned with Drogba’s verdict
The message itself is an innocuous one as far as Arsenal are concerned, and likely more pan-French solidarity from the former Marseille star than a pointed dig PSG’s opponents.
That said, the Ivorian spent the best years of his career at Chelsea, winning four Premier League titles as well as the Champions League in 2012.
And Arsenal fans will concede he was a persistent nightmare for them throughout that era, scoring 13 goals in 15 appearances against the Gunners.
The fact that he clearly wants PSG to beat his old club’s rivals will not be lost on anyone in north London.
But PSG go into the final as favourites, regardless of who is backing them.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, as ever, will back themselves in Budapest on 30 May, and that is the only endorsement that matters.
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