Didier Drogba: Jose Mourinho reveals desire to keep Chelsea striker next season, but says retirement decision is 'personal'

Mourinho wants the Chelsea great to continue playing despite turning 37 in March

Jose Mourinho has revealed his desire to keep Didier Drogba at Chelsea for another season after the club legend scored against Tottenham in the 3-0 victory on Wednesday night.

Drogba’s record against Spurs makes grim reading for fans of the north London club, having scored six times against them since he joined Chelsea in 2004. Spurs must have been glad to see the back of the Ivorian when he left the Blues in 2012, only for the talismanic striker to return to Stamford Bridge this season.

It had been thought that the 2013-14 campaign would be a swansong for Drogba before he finally hangs up his boots and begins life after football, but Mouirnho has spoken of his hope that he plays on beyond the end of the season and has left the decision to him.

Speaking after the victory on Wednesday night, Mourinho said: “He’s remarkable. First of all he’s a team player, after that, he’s one of these with an old days mentality.

“He’s not selfish, not vain, a humble guy who plays and fights for the team.

“Is this his last season? I don’t know. It must be his decision. He came here to stay, I want him to stay, the club want him to stay.

“It will be his decision when he decides to stop as a player. Something personal.

“The important thing is he is here and will finish his career with Chelsea. It looks, for me, that he’s going to stay doing other things when he finishes his career.”

Drogba was given a rare start against Spurs given that Diego Costa was ruled out through suspension after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland at the weekend. But such is Chelsea’s squad depth this season that Mourinho was able to call on Champions League winner Drogba to start the encounter, and he was able to bring on Loic Remy from the bench who rounded out the scoring with a brilliant late strike.

However, Mourinho reiterated how important Costa is to their Premier League aspirations

“We need Costa, but I think our mentality is the right mentality,” said Mourinho.

“We don’t have a player? We don’t cry about it. You give confidence to the others and the others respond in the best way.”