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'He was the one who made the difference," said one Premiership manager when asked his thoughts on Didier Drogba. "He killed us. Not just that but I could see that some of my players were scared of him."
Unsurprisingly, the manager - given that admission of fear -
wanted to remain anonymous. But he is not alone.
The effect Drogba, who plays overnight at Fulham and then at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday, has had on Chelsea and their opponents has grown to such an extent that he, rather than Frank Lampard or John Terry, is now the talisman for Jose Mourinho's side.
Nineteen goals (and three asists) in 30 games in all competitions so far this season is an exceptional return for the striker from the Ivory Coast. He has now scored 50 goals for Chelsea in just 110 games. His last five games have brought five goals, including one as a substitute.
But it has also been the quality and timing of his strikes that have caught the eye. Drogba scores crucial goals for Chelsea, such as in the Champions League draw away to Barcelona and League Cup quarter-final victory at Newcastle United when he had to come off the bench - again - to change proceedings.
At a time when the champions have not been firing, he's still capable of pulling the trigger.
Interestingly, the anonymous manager was not referring to his side's meeting with Chelsea this season. He was talking about a fixture last year.
For although Drogba's present form is phenomenal - and has won over the doubters - his impact has been felt by his opponents in England for some time.
Just ask Arsenal's Philippe Senderos, who has been exposed in his contests with Drogba.
The 28-year-old was always central to Mourinho's plans and the manager will smile at the thought that he has spread fear.
That is what he wanted when he paid 24 million to bring Drogba, all 1.88m and 86kg of him, from Marseilles to Stamford Bridge soon after his own arrival in London in the summer of 2004.
Mourinho wanted his team to play in a certain style and needed the power, aggression, stamina and intelligence of Drogba as the fulcrum of his attack.
However, the association between the two pre-dates that move. Mourinho, when manager of Porto, tried to sign Drogba, then at relatively obscure French club Guingamp. Mourinho was outbid but when he returned for Drogba, that was never going to happen again.
That link helps explain the closeness between the two.
"Our relationship is very down to earth," Drogba said of Mourinho. "There's mutual trust between us. He gives me the chance to play and I put in the performances he wants. I do the work for him. We understand each other. That generates respect.
"It's true we get on well. We have some similarities like our desire to win. We never give up. Like him, I'm a proud person. I might be slightly privileged within the group because he's the one who made me come."
Intriguingly, Drogba also said he responds to Mourinho's "sensitive side, even though you may not expect much sensitivity from him. He protects himself from the media but at the same time he puts on an act. He can be severe but can also put his hand on his heart".
Drogba likens his relationship with Mourinho to "a bit like the relationship he had with William Gallas" and, like the French defender, now at Arsenal following an acrimonious split, the striker faced a crisis last season and during summer.
Firstly, accusations of diving came to a head in the victory at home to Manchester City when he scored twice but was booed by Chelsea fans after being named man of the match. Then Andrei Shevchenko's arrival for more than 30 million seemed to unsettle him. Tentative overtures were made by Lyon and Milan but Drogba resolved to stay.
Shevchenko's troubles seemed to liberate Drogba. Tactical switches lifted the burden of being a lone striker while, having fully settled in England and being more familiar with the language, Drogba kicked on.
"What he has done this season is no surprise to me or anyone else in France," his agent Pierre Frelot said. "Didier is very collective, he plays for the team, he's very human and he's very different."
Frelot acknowledged another factor was the contract Drogba signed in November which extended his deal to 2010. With that confirmation his salary was doubled to 100,000 a week.
Drogba still misses opportunities and his ridiculous collapse following a gentle prod from Jens Lehmann shows that the theatrics remain.
But the most telling comment came from Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard after Drogba's stunning 93rd-minute equaliser in their Champions League game at the Nou Camp.
"It was a tight, close game and Drogba changed all that," he said. It has been a familiar refrain.
- THE INDEPENDENT