New Delhi: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has found an unlikely admirer in international football star Didier Drogba. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba said though he didn't know much about cricket but his stint in England made him follow the 2011 World Cup and he felt that Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who lead India to the World Cup glory, was a good leader.

“I know your captain though I cannot pronounce his name. I followed the last (cricket) World Cup. The Indian team were the Champions. I think he (Dhoni) is a very good leader. It took me time to understand the game. It is very long and sometimes it goes on for days. But after hearing about the World Cup, I find it interesting now,” said Drogba.

Drogba, who will leave the club at the end of the 2012 season, said here on Sunday that the greatest achievement in his career was to win the Champions League trophy with the Londoners. The English club, who were the rank outsiders in the tournament, beat German side Bayern Munich in a thrilling penalty shootout to win their first European crown.

The Ivory Coast striker was the key architect in Chelsea's victory, first scoring the equaliser to take the game to penalties and then burying the final spot-kick.

"Winning the Champions League has been my greatest achievement. The eight years in Chelsea has been the best in my career. We have been trying for eight years and have been in the final. So, it is a dream come true.

"Chelsea were very good for me. I shared a special relationship with the club, it was very difficult to leave the club," said Drogba on the sidelines of Pepsi T20 football finale at the Thyagraj Stadium here.

Drogba said he didn't know much about cricket but being in England he followed the 2011 World Cup in India and felt that Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a good leader.

"I know your captain though I cannot pronounce his name. I followed the last (cricket) World Cup. The Indian team were the Champions. I think he (Dhoni) is a very good leader,

"It took me time to understand the game. It is very long and sometimes it goes on for days. But after hearing about the world cup, I find it interesting now."

Talking about Chelsea's string of managers, the forward said that Portuguese Jose Mourinho had the biggest influence but it would be the current manager Italian Roberto Di Matteo, who would be most remembered.

"Mourinho brought in a lot of spirit into our team but Di Matteo will be the most remembered manager of Chelsea after winning the European trophy. At Chelsea we had a great team spirit. Di Matteo brought all the guys together, young and old," said the Ivorian in his first rip to the country.

The 34-year-old though kept the transfer speculation close to his chest. With the host of club vying to sign him, Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, who also has former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka, is the front runner.

"The next step is interesting. I'll soon announce where I'm going. But as of now, you will just have to wait."

Answering critics who condemned Chelsea for their defensive 'park the bus' strategy, the former Chelsea star said: "There is more than one way to win in football. We play a little defensively, that's our style. As long as we win trophies it’s fine. Every team has their own way of playing. It's not like we don't attack, we score a lot of goals.