Drogba dispute settled - Montreal chief

Montreal Impact chief Joey Saputo said on
Tuesday the club had settled its dispute with
Didier Drogba after the star striker sensationally
refused to play last weekend.
The 38-year-old former Chelsea and Ivory Coast
star had stunned the club last weekend after
demanding to be left out of the match-day squad
upon discovering he would start on the bench.
The uproar left Drogba facing an uncertain future
with Montreal as the club look towards the Major
League Soccer postseason.
However Impact President Saputo said in a
statement on Tuesday that the situation with the
veteran striker had now been resolved.
"We met with Didier. The situation has been
resolved to the club's satisfaction," Saputo said.
"Didier has accepted to assume the role that the
head coach sees fit while contributing to the
success of this club moving forward.
"When he came to Montreal, Didier said he came
here to win, and he still has the same objective.
"Our main priority now is to focus on the last
game of the season and the upcoming playoffs."
The controversy is just the latest glitch in a
turbulent second season in the MLS for Drogba,
who was linked to a return to Chelsea in a
coaching role last December.
Impact initially denied the story but then admitted
they had been in contact with Chelsea amid
reports that Drogba was considering announcing
his retirement in order to escape the second year
of his contract with Montreal to force a move
back to Stamford Bridge.
Drogba denied the claim and eventually reported
back for duty with the Impact.
Although he has scored 10 goals and contributed
six assists this season, controversy has continued
to follow him, with the player involved in a spat
with New York Red Bulls fans last month.
The problems have led to mounting calls amongst
fans for Drogba to be let go, with critics noting
that the team's record this season has been
better when he has not played.