SOCCER: Didier Drogba has been sensationally dropped for Chelsea's trip to face Southend in the FA Cup Third Round replay tonight. The Ivorian striker will not even travel with the squad for the match at Roots Hall.
Drogba has become the first victim of Luiz Felipe Scolari's get-tough policy following their 3-0 mauling by Manchester United on Sunday.
Scolari also delivered a scathing assessment of his side's trophy-winning capability and hinted at more major changes after giving his squad of highly-paid players enough opportunities to impress him since the summer.
Scolari clearly feels Drogba is a pale shadow of the player once feared by both Premier League and European defences.
His apparent indifference on the pitch is in marked contrast to the eagerness of top scorer Nicolas Anelka who told Scolari he was unhappy at being left out of the starting line-up for their last three games.
Now Scolari appears to have made up his mind and Drogba's days at Stamford Bridge look numbered.
The striker, linked with a transfer to Inter Milan, may now get his wish after Scolari's dropped him for a replay Chelsea cannot afford to lose.
"I have looked at many games with Anelka and I have looked at the last few games with Didier," said Scolari. "I have my opinion and I will put my opinion on the pitch every game.
"All the players have had their chance. I have given every player at least five or six games to impress.
"Now we will start with one team against Southend United, and maybe I will start with the same team against Stoke City. But I need answers from the players. I will give them their chance and I need answers.
"If I have given players only one chance then maybe some of the players will complain that they have only had one opportunity.
"But when I have given four or five chances then there is no room for questions, it is my decision to play this or that player, and finish.
"In last five games we play at 50 per cent of our potential. No more than this. Some players have been at 75 to 80 per cent while others have been at 35-40 per cent. But the balance for our team in the last five games has been 50 per cent.
"If you ask me if this team are ready to win things then no. They are not ready to win a trophy and they know this. They might not say things publicly but they know we are not ready.
"The players have been trying hard and I know that and I understand. It is difficult for the fans and people outside the club.
"Do you think that any player will go on the pitch in front of 75,000 people and not want to play? Never. Sometimes they make mistakes because they are not in a good condition but not because they do not want to play. If this happened then they would be finished. I am a good man but I am not a fool.
"I understand people now don't have a very good opinion about me because we lost a game 3-0 against Man Utd. I know this but in my opinion, I am doing a good job."
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