Skip to content

Drogba rules himself out of Red Bulls clash due to back pain

Reuters

Didier Drogba might not be as close to a return as first reported, as the Montreal Impact striker ruled himself out of Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal match against the New York Red Bulls due to back pain.

"Very disappointed not to be part of the team because of this damn back pain," Drogba tweeted, as translated by MLSsoccer.com's Charles Boehm, before adding that his side needed the Ultras Montreal to "bring the (fire)" against the Red Bulls.

"L'affaire Drogba" has now rolled into its third week. The Ivorian has missed his side's last three matches, starting with a 401 Derby snub against Toronto FC as the result of not being named to the starting XI.

Even against TFC, though, reports of a back injury surfaced. That same injury kept Drogba out of the Impact's final match of the regular season, as well as a playoff knockout-round tilt against D.C. United.

However, Drogba was at RFK Stadium for that match, and celebrated the 4-2 win with his teammates after the final whistle. His return is expected to bolster an Impact team already in free-scoring mode with Ignacio Piatti and Matteo Mancosu starting in Mauro Biello's side.

As such, Drogba is expected to start from the bench if and when he does return, a role that seemed to upset him initially. With 10 goals in 22 appearances this season, Drogba's presence, even in a limited capacity, gives Biello another strong attacking option to call on against a Red Bulls team unbeaten in its last 16 matches.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox