Football Talk - Ivory Coast coach critical of Chelsea - 06/01/10
Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic has criticised Chelsea, claiming that they have overplayed Didier Drogba.
Halilhodzic faces the prospect of having to play with a below-par Drogba going into the opening match in the African Nations Cup on Monday against Burkina Faso and the Bosnian is angry that the striker has played nine games in five weeks for Chelsea.
"We are worried for all our players' fitness in the squad, especially players like Drogba, who are always involved in so many matches," said Halilhodzic in the Daily Express. "It is unrealistic for a player to play two matches in three days. That kind of fixture list is too demanding for key players like Drogba. Ten days ago I went to England to discuss it with Didier because I did not want this to continue happening to him.
"He is a human being, not a machine."
