As Didier Drogba officially left Chelsea at the start of the summer, many fans were left wandering who would replace the "King of Stamford Bridge". The answer to that question came in the form of Radamel Falcao, the 29-year-old arrived on a season long loan from AS Monaco with the option to make the deal permanent at the season's close. The only matter left to settle now is whether or not the Colombian striker can fill the boots of the fan favorite. 

Arriving in London, Falcao will be forced to overcome the shadow of Didier Drogba's time at Chelsea. The legacy that the Ivory Coast star has left behind him, the goals, the trophies and the passion that he displayed whilst in a blue shirt that has allowed him to leave a legend.

Drogba walks away from English football boasting an impressive; four league titles, three League Cups, four FA Cups, two Community Shields and a Champions League winners medal. Those team honors, alongside the personal success and accomplishments he has earned, have left big shoes to fill for the on-loan star.

Will the Colombian hit the dizzy heights of his Atletico days?

Questions were raised over the signing of Falcao due to his poor performances during his loan spell at Manchester United last season, leaving many football fans asking if Falcao could ever reach the level he was at prior to his ACL injury.

The striker struggled for form in his first season in the Premier League, scoring only four goals in 26 appearances and even spending time playing for the under-21 team in an attempt to improve his performances. 

However many did come to the defense of Falcao last season, including Manchester United fans themselves, giving him a standing ovation on his final appearance for the Old Trafford side. He was often praised for his steely determination to get himself in the right place and score goals, and the passion that Drogba showed when playing in a blue shirt will be a trait Chelsea fans will want to see from Falcao.

It is often noted how foreign players can struggle in their debut seasons in the English leagues, something that Chelsea fans may remember with Didier Drogba himself. The former African Player of the Year admitted himself "I know I could do better", in regards to his first season as a Blue, only scoring 10 league goals in a season plagued by complaints regarding his diving and professionalism.

Can Falcao prove the doubters wrong?

The main argument for Falcao's ability to replace Drogba as that he is not replacing a Didier Drogba in his prime, now coming towards the final seasons of his career, Drogba is no longer the player he once was, having lost both pace and power.

The African star could only match Falcao's total of four league goals in Chelsea's championship winning season, and as Falcao will be competing with the likes of Diego Costa and Loic Remy for a starting position in Jose Mourinho's side, it's likely Falcao's role will be more of a squad one.

But one look at his history will show the Colombian can easily give Costa some strong competition, his time at both Porto and Atletico were incredibly successful, which goes to show why he is still sought after by Europe's biggest clubs. 

Whether or not Falcao can leave the legacy that Drogba did during his spells at the club remains to be seen, but when comparing the 2014/15 Drogba and Falcao there are many similarities.

Will he be another big money flop?

Hopefully, as far as Chelsea are concerned, Falcao will adapt to the English league in his second season as well as Drogba did his, and it could turn into the steal of the summer. However, Chelsea fans know only too well the frustration of world class footballers failing to make the mark at the Bridge in both Fernando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko. The fact that this move is only temporary should stop history from repeating itself. 

As Chelsea's pre-season is about to begin and Falcao will train and play with his new team mates for the first time, only time will tell if Falcao will be able to make his mark in England, or if he will secure himself a permanent deal at the club. But for the purpose that he has been signed for, which is to fill the gap left behind by Didier Drogba, he could be the perfect fit for the job.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Matthew Wilkinson
Huddersfield University in Sports Journalism. Twitter- MC_Wilkinson1