Yakubu: Drogba can help win titles
Guangzhou R&F's Yakubu Aiyegbeni gave a glowing review of Shanghai Shenhua striker Didier Drogba's debut performance against his side on Sunday.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
The ex-Chelsea striker came on in the second half as a substitute and was a powerful presence during the game. It was his through-ball that allowed Cao Yunding to equalise the score and help prevent a defeat on his first outing.
Drogba will play alongside Nicolas Anelka up front in attack for the Chinese Super League side but it is unlikely that the former Premier League players will be able to help the team scale the summit in the remaining 12 games as they are currently languishing in 13th place.
Nevertheless, former Blackburn striker Yakubu saw the Ivory Coast international in action and spoke highly of the inspirational effect that Drogba seems to have on his team-mates. He predictedthat Drogba could help Shanghai win the league in the future as well.
"He showed the quality today [Sunday] you know," he told reporters.
"He gave more confidence to the team, you have to see the way he played today.
"When he is 100 percent, he can help Shanghai win the league."
The Champions League winner was happy to have completed his first game out and revealed that he was getting used to his new habitat and "all things China".
"I am happy that everything went right in my first 45 minutes here," Drogba said.
"It was a little bit hard for me to get into the game at the beginning, but when I got used to the rhythm, I began to enjoy the game.
"I am feeling good now and was accustomed to all things in China now. It is very comfortable playing alongside my former teammate Nicolas (Anelka)."
Drogba and Anelka will see familiar faces in their next match as they get to entertain Manchester United in a friendly match at the Shanghai stadium on Wednesday.