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Didier Drogba defying expectations after successful 1st season in MLS

Reuters

Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba spent the better part of the last 18 months plying away at his football. So, it's no wonder the prospect of a break sounds so tempting.

Drogba played an entire Premier League season with Chelsea before swapping over to Major League Soccer, and made his presence felt immediately, scoring 11 goals in 12 games for his new side to round off the year. Now, the 37-year-old Ivorian is considering a return to Stamford Bridge.

"To train, why not? It's something we have to discuss with the club here," Drogba told reporters when asked about returning to Chelsea in the MLS offseason. "I belong to the Montreal Impact. To stay in shape, why not? To play, I'm really not too hot on that idea. I need to rest well and to be ready for this league."

For Drogba, the duality of life in the Premier League and life in Major League Soccer is subtle but clear; here stands an icon of English football, a player who dominated with Chelsea for many years, but lost a step as he succumbed to age.

With Montreal, Drogba looks 10 years younger, or, he's scoring like he is, anyway.

"Comparing leagues is difficult," Drogba said of the two. "Here, there's a distance. The traveling means that teams are pretty much of the same level. For MLS to get to the level of the English, Spanish, or even Turkish league, there's stuff to do. They're on the right path, it's fine, but there's stuff to do, still."

During the tail end of his time at Stamford Bridge, Drogba had been left out of the roster and admitted he hadn't trained in nearly two months. He signed for the Impact in the summer window, joining a slew of other Premier League stars joining the league this year, including Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Drogba's goal was making sure he looked the part of Premier League-caliber striker once he landed in his new home.

"After winning the title in England, there were expectations," Drogba said. "But people said that, at (37 years old), it was over already. As you can imagine, with what little honors I've won, I have no desire to look ridiculous on the football field."

Still, that doesn't change Drogba's desire for trophies, a hunger he has satiated time and time again in Europe. Premier League titles and a first-ever club Champions League win highlighted his time with the Blue. Now he's looking to replicate that success - or, at least, the feeling of it - with the blue shirts of Montreal.

"You've understood that I'm someone that likes to set objectives and, most of all, I don't like to disappoint," Drogba said. "Coming here, I knew this would be a heck of a challenge.

"As I said when I got here, I came here to win - not necessarily winning MLS (Cup), but seeing the kinds of emotions we saw in the last games. That is a win for the club, for the city. I'm happy with my season, my four months, despite my age. Coming here, I knew I was able to bring something more to the club."

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