In an era where Chelsea were desperately trying to replace one of the best strikers to ever play for the club, Demba Ba was a short-term solution who certainly had his moments.
The Blues were searching far and wide to replace Didier Drogba’s goals at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o also spending time in West London.
Ba spent a season and a half at Chelsea, very rarely completing 90 minutes due to Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho frequently chopping and changing in order to find their best possible options.
Drogba had tipped Torres to become a Chelsea legend, however often it was the Senegal international who was on hand to deliver the big moments.
One of his most notable moments came at Anfield, when the striker capitalised on a Steven Gerrard mistake to set Chelsea on their way to a memorable win against Liverpool late in the season.
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Demba Ba picks surprising biggest moment of his Chelsea career
The player himself doesn’t see this moment as the biggest moment from his Blues tenure though.
Ba was thrown on off the bench in a Champions League quarter-final against PSG when Chelsea were chasing one goal to book their place in the semi-finals.
It was the Senegalese star who stepped up to score with minutes to go to send Mourinho marauding down the touchline in celebration.
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Ba told RMC Sport that while he doesn’t think it sums up his career, the strike at Stamford Bridge is the moment which marks his career.
He said: “It was a moment of pleasure. Not because it was Paris, but that goal qualified the team for the semi-finals of the Champions League,
“One of our goals when we started the season with Chelsea was to win every competition we played in. Reaching the semi-finals was another step forward. It was truly a great pleasure.
“In the French environment, yes, it has marked my career. But fortunately, I have performances beyond scoring a goal in my career. It is not a goal that won us the Champions League.”
Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Demba Ba’s high opinion of current Chelsea star
Despite not spending long at the club, Ba has clearly kept himself updated on the current goings on at Chelsea.
The striker situation in West London is under scrutiny pretty much all the time right now, with Nicolas Jackson the go-to option when fit.
Ba was full of praise for Jackson earlier this season, with his countryman’s worth perhaps not being appreciated fully until he was unavailable due to injury.
Jackson is back in training ahead of Chelsea’s return to Premier League action against Tottenham.