Kenyon: Drogba going nowhere

2nd December 2008

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon admits he has no idea whether Didier Drogba met with Inter Milan but insists the Ivory Coast striker is going nowhere.

Kenyon insisted Drogba would only leave when Chelsea felt it was right for the club.

"I'm not at all concerned," said Kenyon. "I don't know whether a meeting went on or not, but I'm not concerned. Didier has a contract with us. Players will only leave Chelsea when we let them. Didier has a big season ahead of him and 18 months left on his contract."

The 30-year-old's future came under fresh speculation last week when the player was alleged to have attended a meeting with Inter sporting director Marco Branca at a Fulham restaurant.

Drogba has served two games of a three-match domestic ban for throwing a coin back at Burnley fans during their Carling Cup tie but Kenyon maintained the player had a big part to play in the rest of Chelsea's season.

Kenyon added: "We know the contribution that Didier Drogba can make for Chelsea, and we want to get him back to that form because it's important for us in the second half of the season.

"That's been my message to Didier. The coach is supportive of him. The team is supportive of him. He's at Chelsea - why would he want to be anywhere else?"