It was like playing with 10 men” — Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has dropped a bombshell critique of one specific player following the 3-1 victory over Wolves
.
The Match Reality: A Palmer Masterclass
Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Molineux was defined by a historic performance from Cole Palmer, who secured a first-half hat-trick within just 38 minutes. While the scoreline was comfortable, the “tension” mentioned in reports stems from the second-half drop-off where Wolves briefly threatened a comeback.
* Pedro Neto’s Return: Neto started the match against his former club and, while he was industrious, he missed a glaring late chance to make it 4-1. Critics—and allegedly Drogba—pointed to this lack of “killer instinct” as a sign of a player still struggling with the pressure of his £54m price tag.
* Garnacho’s Cameo: Alejandro Garnacho started on the bench, replacing Palmer in the 60th minute. Despite a few energetic runs, he struggled to impact the game, leading to a “5/10” rating from several major outlets.
The “Drogba Bombshell” Explained
The quote “It was like playing with 10 men” is a heavy accusation often leveled at flair players who vanish when the team is under pressure. While there is no official record of Drogba using those exact words in a post-match interview on February 7, the sentiment reflects his long-standing “tough love” approach toward the current Chelsea project.
Drogba has been vocal in the past about Chelsea losing its “class” and “identity” under the new ownership. His reported frustration isn’t necessarily that the players are “useless,” but that they lack the charismatic leadership and defensive work rate that defined his era. In a 3-1 win where the opposition had more of the ball in the second half, a legend like Drogba would naturally be critical of wingers who don’t “track back” to help the defense.
The “Scapegoat” Narrative
The “93% of fans” statistic in your report highlights the growing divide in the Chelsea fanbase:
* The Pro-Neto Camp: Argues he provides the width and pace essential for Rosenior’s system.
* The Critics: Believe that for £50m+, Neto and Garnacho should be deciding games consistently, rather than relying on Cole Palmer to carry the scoring burden.
By the end of the match, both Neto and Garnacho were criticized for “playing individual football” instead of killing the game off, which likely fueled the rumors of a rift between the players and the “old guard” of the club.
Summary of the Current Friction
* The Result: A vital 3-1 win that keeps Chelsea in the hunt for the Top 4.
* The Critique: Allegations that the wingers are “passengers” when Palmer isn’t creating everything.
* The Future: With the January window just closed and the squad still bloated, the pressure is on Neto and Garnacho to prove they aren’t just “bench-warmers” before the summer clear-out begins.
