Didier Drogba feels his development into one of the world's most feared frontmen is down to Jose Mourinho.

Blues striker thanks former coach for raising his game

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Didier Drogba feels his development into one of the world's most feared frontmen is down to Jose Mourinho. The Ivorian striker was signed by the Portuguese tactician upon his arrival at Chelsea in the summer of 2004. Big things were expected of him, especially as the Blues had shelled out £24million in order to snatch him away from Marseille. Drogba initially struggled to settle in England, but soon flourished under the careful guidance of Mourinho. Having gone from strength to strength in recent years, the African ace is now widely regarded as the complete attacking weapon. Drogba admits that he was able to fulfil his potential because of the faith shown in him by Mourinho, while he has also shed light on the man-management skills which helped to raise his game. "Mourinho is somebody very strong tactically but mainly from the psychological side. He knows how to get through to the players," Drogba told. "I remember sometimes I would talk to him and say 'Why are you giving me two days off even though we have a match in a few days?' And he said that my rest was mostly psychological. "That means you can cut yourself off for a couple of days and you rest and you're mentally well and you come back fresh. The mental side is 90 per cent of football. The players are with him absolutely. He gives you everything."He says 'Do what you want, with me you can do what you want. But on the pitch you give me everything. You don't betray me. I give you everything you want, I give you days off but you must be performing on the pitch.' "He would come and tell you if you had a bad game that you didn't play well but the next match if you played well he'd also come to say 'For me you were man of the match.' "I loved him because he made me progress as a player. I was ready to break my legs for him." Mourinho's own star rose considerably during his days at Stamford Bridge, with his outspoken attitude making him a firm favourite with fans and the media. However, the now Inter Milan coach claims that he does not intentionally seek the limelight and insists he would prefer to be left to do his job in peace. "I love being a coach and the year I had without football after leaving Chelsea was difficult," he said. "But some parts of the job are not so attractive. "Even though people say I like being in the media, the opposite is true. If I could avoid talking to the media from this moment on, I would do it. "But players and managers have contractual obligations to talk so we do it. I don't like being a star. I don't do this job to be famous or get my picture in the paper, but this is part of what we have to do."