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Is it disrespectful to celebrate against your former club?

Reuters

Respect. Class. Honor.

The words are thrown around ad nauseam when a player makes his return against a club for which he once featured. To celebrate a goal against your former employer has become something of a rarity in today's game, with players often looking downright apologetic when they accomplish the very thing their new team pays them millions of dollars to do.

It sounds ridiculous, on the surface. In reality, there are certainly those who subscribe to the notion that it is indeed a sign of disrespect. 

Those people probably aren't worth your time, but they exist nonetheless. 

Our next chance to decide between criticism or applause comes later today, when Didier Drogba returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time. 

The club legend, now plying his trade for Galatasaray, will no doubt be hoping to put an end to Chelsea's Champions League aspirations, and reduce the Blues' supporters in attendance to tears - the same fans who worshiped him as an icon for eight seasons while he scored 157 goals.

But will he celebrate? That's the million dollar question. With the tie in the balance following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, a goal could very well be the difference between qualification for the quarterfinals and elimination.

Surely you should be allowed to revel in such a moment should it come along.

"I had mixed feelings," Drogba said of his return to West London. "First of all I was happy to play against my ex-club, against my friends. But at the same time it is a very special moment because I do not know what my reaction will be. You know that I spent eight years at Chelsea, so I really don't know, I am quite apprehensive about it."

Perhaps the Ivorian striker can look for guidance from some of his peers who have found themselves dealing with the same moral quandary.

Here's a look at how a few others have dealt with the dilemma over the years...

Emmanuel Adebayor

Who could possibly forget? There's celebrating against your old team. And then there's celebrating against your old team. The two are entirely different. 

As evidenced by the Togolese striker, the latter borders on downright mockery.

Robin van Persie

In his first three appearances against Arsenal after making his £24-million switch to Old Trafford in the summer of 2012, Robin van Persie scored three goals.

November 3, 2012: no reaction. 

August 28, 2013: no reaction.

But something changed. Maybe it was the little boy inside him, or perhaps he finally realized how ludicrous it was not to show any emotion after scoring.

Either way, this happened on November 10, 2013: 

Here's how Paul Campbell of The Guardian crafted his argument following the Dutchman's decision to slide in jubilation against his former employer:

Van Persie had every right to enjoy his moment. He has new team-mates, a new manager and new supporters now – and he had just brought 76,000 of them together in a moment of relief and joy.

Well said.

Cristiano Ronaldo 

Aretha Franklin would be furious with the two aforementioned players.

Thankfully, Cristiano Ronaldo exists, and apparently he is the last great bastion of class this sport has to offer.

The Portuguese star explained his decision after the match.

“I didn’t celebrate the goal because Manchester was my home for six years and I was still a kid when I arrived there. It’s not about not celebrating, I want to win, but I respect the people from there.”

By that logic, Drogba may very well break down into tears should he find a way to beat old teammate Petr Cech.

Your move, Didier.

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