Drogba distraught when Mourinho walked

Didier Drogba ‘wept like a child’ at Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea, according to a new book published in Spain.

The book, called ‘Mourinho: Secrets of his Success’, documents the exit of the Portuguese manager from Stamford Bridge in September 2007.

Mourinho left the club after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich, despite having won six trophies for the club, including two English Premier League titles.

According to the book, senior players John Terry and Frank Lampard attempted to persuade club officials not to let the manager leave.

Quoted in the Daily Express, Portuguese defender Paulo Ferreira said: “It is always complicated when a manager leaves a club, but this case was much more so.”

“Jose came into the dressing room, gathered us all together and told us he was leaving. Didier (Drogba) was one of the worst affected. He wept like a child.”

Drogba himself said: “There was lots of emotion. It seemed unreal, as though it was a movie.”

“We used to see him every day, and we were unprepared for him leaving. It was a real shock.”

Lampard said: “I thought Jose would stay for 10 years. Everything was working perfectly.”

“I don’t normally get emotionally involved in these matters. I know managers come and go, that is football.”

“But in this case it was more than a manager who was going, it was a friend who was leaving us behind.”

Now coached by Mourinho’s former scout Andre Villas-Boas, Terry and Drogba both started as Chelsea beat Valencia 3-0 on Tuesday, qualifying for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.