Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has hailed Roman Abramovich & Marina Granovskaia ahead of the club's first game of the Premier League season.
Both Abramovich and club director Granovskaia left Stamford Bridge earlier in the year after the United Kingdom's sanctions on Russian oligarch meant the the former could no longer own the club. The former has been replaced by American businessman Todd Boehly, who spent £4.25b to buy the club in 2022.
Drogba spent his whole Chelsea career under the stewardship of both Abramovich and Granovskaia, and ahead of the club's first Premier League game under new ownership the ex-Chelsea star has taken to Instagram to thank both for their contributions to the club:
As the new Premier League season starts, before the first Chelsea home game, I wanted to highlight and thank two people who were so important during my time at the Club.
"First of all, I want to thank Marina for always supporting me in the good moments and even the difficult moments at the club, when most people were criticising me for saying loud (maybe a bit too loud actually) and clear what I felt unfair ( champions league CFC v Barcelona 2009 ).
"Only Marina and a handful of people understood it as someone who cared for the club, the badge and the fans.
"Her contribution to this club is beyond what people on the outside know. Over 19 years she worked so hard to build a world class club and to keep the blue flag flying high in the world of football.
"And to Roman, boss, no need to tell stories of moments we shared together. My loyalty and repsect for you is for life! On both a professional and a personal level I can never thank you enough for your belief and support and the vision you created to help us all achieve our dreams.
"You came unknown in to the football world, you leave having won everything possible. Together we made history that no one can take away, it is here forever."
