At the end of the week in which he made his return to the Chelsea starting line-up and ahead of the launch of his new book in the UK, Didier Drogba has spoken honestly about the big stories that have been surrounding him.

In a Chelsea TV exclusive interview, speculation over a summer transfer, his unhappiness in his early days in London, his thoughts on Chelsea managers and his knee injury were all covered, as was the Champions League Final, a defeat that has played a part in his decision to remain at the club.

'In November when I made an article saying I wanted to leave, I had my reasons when I was saying that,' Drogba recalled during the interview.

'It didn't change anything in terms of the way I was playing. It was a boost for me to speak and say what I was feeling because I needed to do it and I think everybody understood what I was trying to say, and respected me for what I said.

'After that I gave everything I could, because playing injured is not easy and I did it, so nobody can say this guy was not part of the club's future or life.

'Then came the end of the season and a lot of speculation, and because of this article everybody said I was going to leave.

'It was in my head but at the same time, to lose the Champions League Final, to leave the club without winning anything [that season], and since I am here I created a fantastic relationship with some players. My family is happy here, I am happy in London.

'From the Champions League Final, maybe before, I knew what I was doing the year after.

'I didn't need to speak because I have two more years [on my contract], I didn't need to speak to say I was staying or leaving. When you have a contract you have to respect it, I signed two years ago and am really happy with it.

'It has been two years when we don't touch the [Premier League] trophy. You realise what we did two years before was fantastic and amazing and you want to win the League again. But the Champions League is I think for this season one of the main objectives.'

Last season's finale in Moscow may have been a contributory factor in Drogba's major decision away from the pitch, but on it, it will always be remembered for the width of the post denying a brilliant and potentially match-winning goal, and an extra-time red card.

'When it hit the post I was really down because I didn't have a lot of chances so if I can call it a chance, that was a good try,' he said.

'The second half was fantastic. Manchester United played well and when they scored, we started to play and equalised with fantastic movement. The second half was Chelsea. We dominated the game but couldn't score.'

Drogba confirmed he was ready to take a penalty in the shoot-out, had it not been for the fateful sending-off.

'I think I was frustrated because of the way the game was going and I was emotional,' he admits about the flick at Nemanja Vidic that precipitated the red card.

'How can you not be emotional in this kind of game? Of course this is something I shouldn't have done but I think it was made more than it was. I don't think it was a red card, maybe a yellow. I went to the dressing room, praying my friends could do it.'

With his head down and no acknowledgement of the fans.

'I was really disappointed, maybe some people didn't understand. I was disappointed not to be in the penalty shootout. It is more difficult than seeing the red card, to leave the pitch like this, especially in front of our fans. That was for me a big chance to win the Champions League.'

It is no secret that Drogba had also been hugely disappointed eight months earlier when José Mourinho left the club, a regret that was partly behind the already-discussed article expressing a desire to leave.

In his new book, Didier Drogba: The Autobiography, he also discusses a troubled settling-in period when he joined in 2004.

'First of all I think I did well because when you are like a king in a club and you have to leave it to go to another team where there is 21 kings, it is difficult because everybody has an ego and you are proud,' he further reflected during the Chelsea TV interview.

'Your ego is affected, and that's normal, that's life and how you improve in life. Only people that don't want to see the truth stay behind and then they don't progress.

'I said in the book I wasn't happy when I first came, I was thinking the fans didn't know me, and now I understand I maybe wasn't giving the best of what they were expecting. You have to be open for the critics and learn from it, and take the best out of it.

'This guy [Mourinho] believed in me and with Roman [Abramovich], they did everything to make me come here to Chelsea. When a manager comes and says this is the player I want, not another striker and when you have difficulties like I had, he was always protecting me.

'If you have a little bit of respect and emotion and heart, you would be sad if he leaves.

'People say I was shocked like the world was ended, and it was really difficult because when you adapt to a certain way of training with people and see them every day for four years, you get close to them, know their family, that's all it was. It was sad.

'The most difficult time was at first, because I was still injured and it was difficult for me to start again. The players helped me a lot, saying to me they need me to play. I say thanks to them, that's why I am a team player. In this kind of moment I really say thank you.'

The chronic knee problem that had been troubling our highest-scoring striker was eventually operated on in December 2007, his return coming in time for the African Cup of Nations and then the second half of Chelsea's season, but then more recuperation was needed.

'Last year was more difficult because I didn't take the normal time to recover from the operation,' he admitted, 'but when I went for the Cup in Ghana I felt good, no swelling, so I said I was fit again.

'Then I came back here and my knee started to swell like I have never seen, and I played three months like this, try to reduce the swelling, play, rest.

'That's why I didn't go for pre-season, I really wanted to take my time, think about rebuilding the muscles, getting fit and starting again.'

A new start under a new manager - Felipe Scolari.

'He has got personality, he is a leader, and this is what Chelsea always need and what we have had in the past. I think we lost a little bit during a certain period because some managers have more personality than the others.

'To win titles you need a leader and the leader has to be the manager because the teams always follow him. Mourinho, Ranieri, Gullit, Chelsea always had a leader, that's what we have now and we are back on our winning track.

'The team is good, we started winning so I think we can go far.

'I think everybody knows that I am happy here, that the most important thing for me was to come back fit, to finish with the knee injury and give everything for my team, for the fans, for the club and I am really happy I can be on the pitch again and give everything.'

The Big Interview - Didier Drogba, in which he talks further on the subjects above and also discusses life in London, how he has changed his game, his preferred formation and his goals can be seen on Chelsea TV on Saturday at 10am, 2pm, 5.30pm, 8.15pm and 11pm, and on Sunday at 10am and 8pm.

The rescheduled appearance by Drogba at the Chelsea Megastore is on Friday, when he will be signing copies of his new autobiography.

The Ivorian superstar will be greeting fans for an hour between 5pm and 6pm.

The book talks openly about the forward's life, from his heartbreaking separation from his homeland to his early career at Le Mans and Guingamp, right through to the present, where he is idolised, not just by Chelsea fans but football lovers around the world.

There is more too than simple footballing memories, Drogba is a personality with a story to tell, and is now a UN goodwill ambassador, helping to unify his war torn home.

With a foreword by former manager José Mourinho, Drogba's book really is unmissable, and will be available at £18.99 on the day.

Due to time constraints, Didier will only be able to sign copies of the book, and not other merchandise.