Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been praising Jose Murinho for helping develop his career, ESPN understands.

The Blues boss made the Ivory Coast international one of his first signings during his first stint at Stamford Bridge, and together they won two League Cup, and FA Cup and two Premier League titles.

The 35 year old has said that even after Mourinho left the club in 2007, the winning mentality which he created remained – something that was reflected by the clubs ability to continue clinching major titles, not least the Champions League, in which Drogba netted the decisive penalty in the shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich in May 2012.

Drogba will face Chelsea for the first time since leaving the club eighteen months ago as his current side Galatasaray were drawn against his former employers in the last sixteen of Europe’s top club competition.

Meanwhile, the club’s chances of signing Sami Khedira appear to have ended after the Germany international signed a new deal with Real Madrid, according to the Daily Star.

The 26 year old, who is likely to be out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, has extended his contract at the Bernabeu by a further three years.