Didier Drogba: It is easier to put tall players on the ground

By Alan Dawson

Powerful Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has offered an explanation behind the label of "diver" that is oft associated with him, by reasoning that taller forwards - like himself and John Carew - go to ground easier than players like Wayne Rooney due to a different centre of gravity.

"I had to adapt my game from the French culture to the English culture, which was not easy," he is quoted by British broadsheet The Times as saying.

"I had to understand that in England, even when there’s strong contact, the referees will not always give a foul, so I had to go to the gym a little bit more and get stronger.

"It means nothing to be tall in football. For example, a player like John Carew is big, but with a small contact you can put him on the floor.

He continued: "If he’s running fast and you push him, he’s on the floor.

"Wayne Rooney is small, but very strong. He has a different body shape and lower centre of gravity, so he won’t go to the floor as easily as us tall players."