Drogba Was An Inspiration To Me When I Was Younger – Reece James

Chelsea defender, Reece James has come out to speak ahead of the FA Cup final vs Leicester City. He recently revealed that he is looking to have the Drogba kind of mentality ahead of such an important game.

According to him, Drogba has always been his idol because he would always score in the big games whenever the club needed a goal in important games.

He added that the Ivorian was a great inspiration when he was growing up, and only his footballing mindset can make Chelsea defeat Brendan Rodgers’ boys.

His words, “Drogba has always been my idol,”

“He would always score in the big games whenever we needed a goal, knocking it over the line.”

“I still have the shirt signed by the whole Chelsea team from when I was maybe seven or eight. It was a great inspiration growing up as I would look at the shirt every day.”

“Now, I’m in the first team and people are asking for my signature. At the start, that was a bit weird but as time has gone on I’ve got used to it.”

On his early days as a footballer, “My toughest time was when I was around 15 or 16 years old,”

“It was around the time of my exams that I wasn’t sure I was going to get a contract. So, everything was up in the air.”

“That was the toughest moment in my academy career.”

On Lampard, “If it wasn’t for him, you could argue I wouldn’t be playing now. I am always thankful for what he did for me,”

“It definitely helps a lot when someone who has had a career like him believes in you and it gives you a real confidence boost as well.”

“I worked with [Lampard’s former assistant] Jody [Morris] in the academy, so they helped integrate us into the first team and I think that had a massive positive impact.”

“It was very difficult when a new manager came in,”

“I didn’t know what to expect and then we had to move fast because the games were coming fast.”

“I was devastated that he [Lampard] was going. But I was also excited that a new opportunity was going to happen.”