Former Chelsea Stars Rally Around Mourinho After Galatasaray Controversy

Didier Drogba and Michael Essien have come out in support of their former manager Jose Mourinho, who has been accused of making racist remarks in Turkey.

Former Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Michael Essien have come to the defense of their former manager Jose Mourinho, who has been embroiled in a racism row in Turkey. The controversy erupted after Mourinho, currently the manager of Fenerbahce, made comments about the Galatasaray bench during a drawn league match on Monday. According to Galatasaray, Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys,” sparking outrage and prompting the club to announce that it would launch criminal proceedings against the Portuguese coach.

Mourinho's current club, Fenerbahce, has responded to the allegations, claiming that the coach's comments had been “taken out of context” and “deliberately distorted.” Drogba and Essien, who played under Mourinho during his tenure at Chelsea, have now weighed in on the controversy, defending their former boss against the racism allegations. Their support for Mourinho highlights the complex nature of the controversy, with some arguing that the coach's comments were innocent and others condemning them as racist.

Dear @GalatasaraySK

You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!

We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it.

Ive seen the recent comments about Jose…

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) February 26, 2025

Didier Drogba, a legendary Chelsea striker and one of Jose Mourinho's key players during their back-to-back Premier League title wins, has come out in support of his former manager. Taking to X, Drogba posted a message defending Mourinho against allegations of racism. “I've seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for 25 years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent) is there to prove it,” Drogba wrote.

♥️♥️♥️ pic.twitter.com/s7cAdizbHg

— Michael Essien® (@MichaelEssien) February 26, 2025

Drogba, who also played for Galatasaray, added a personal touch to his post, referring to Mourinho as his “Dad” and expressing his disbelief at the racism allegations. “How can my 'Dad' be a racist?” he asked. Meanwhile, Michael Essien, another former Chelsea player, also came to Mourinho's defense, posting an old photo of himself, Drogba, and Mourinho on X and Instagram, accompanied by three hearts. The show of support from two of Mourinho's most trusted former players has added a new layer to the controversy surrounding the Portuguese coach's comments.