Chelsea reassure supporters

Chelsea have reassured travelling fans that "the safety of our supporters is paramount" ahead of the Blues' Champions League quarter-final second leg at Valencia.

Supporters of Manchester United and Tottenham were involved in ugly clashes last week when their clubs visited Roma and Sevilla respectively but a statement issued on Chelsea's official website insisting that they were doing everything in their power to avoid any repeat at the Estadio Mestalla.

The statement read: "In light of recent events involving travelling English fans with their clubs, Chelsea Football Club would like to reassure our supporters that every step is being taken to ensure their safety for the second leg against Valencia.

"The safety of our supporters is paramount."

The club went on to point out that the first leg of their match passed off in cordial circumstances and expected a similarly incident-free match tonight.

"The two clubs, both sets of supporters and the various English and Spanish authorities enjoyed excellent dialogue and relations in the organisation and staging of a trouble-free first leg and that tone has continued in the run-up to the second leg," said the statement.

The Valencia police, meanwhile, echoed those thoughts.

"We are not expecting any problems, we have many big clubs here and have had English clubs before and there have never been problems," said a police spokesman.