Drogba not fazed by Mestella task

In-form striker Didier Drogba insists Chelsea will not be under pressure when they face Valencia in the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final next Tuesday.

The Ivory Coast forward took his tally to 30 goals for the season with a 53rd-minute headed equaliser which left the quarter-final tie delicately poised.

Chelsea know they will have to score in the Mestalla Stadium to stand any chance of progressing to the last four of a competition that coach Jose Mourinho is desperate to win for a second time.

The English champions were outplayed in the opening half at Stamford Bridge and Valencia fully deserved their 1-0 lead – courtesy of a fabulous 25-yard angled drive from David Silva.

But Drogba, as he has done so many times this season, rescued Mourinho’s men with a typically opportunist header from Ashley Cole’s long through-ball.

Valencia demonstrated the combination of silk and steel that enabled them to overcome Inter Milan in the last round and while they remain favourites to go through to the semi-finals next week, Drogba says Chelsea will not feel the heat.

Drogba declared: “There will be no pressure on us in the second leg, the pressure was here when they scored. So now we don’t have any pressure.

“It is not the best result but I think we can still do something there. As usual we showed good character to come back but the goal Silva scored was unbelievable.

“It was a great goal and a great finish. Valencia played very well but I think we again showed our character. But you never know it football what can happen. We went to Liverpool two seasons ago in the semi-final and we didn’t score.”

Drogba’s sensational season in front of goal has made him one of the favourites to be named player of the year by his fellow professionals, but he refuses to take all the credit.

“The team help me to score as well so I think it is 50-50. I am giving my best for the team and they are giving everything for me as well,” he said.

Chelsea captain John Terry echoed Drogba’s views on the team’s character, adding that it was their fighting spirit and the striker’s nose for goals which helped to keep them in the hunt for Champions League glory.

Terry said: “With Didier scoring goals we are sure we can score a few goals. We just need to keep a clean sheet.

“We scored a great goal and the fighting spirit was just what we needed. We have shown in the Champions League we can go away and go through.

“We need to be on our game and full of confidence and take the game to them.