Frank Lampard: I’m so glad I snubbed Jose Mourinho

The England midfielder, who has recovered from the virus that ruled him out of Saturday's win at Wolves, could have rejoined Jose Mourinho at Inter in the summer of 2008 when he was out of contract and had become frustrated in talks over a new deal.

But he decided to stay at Stamford Bridge and, even though Chelsea have seen Manchester United win the last three Premier League titles, Lampard is glad he will be lining up against his former manager Mourinho in the last- 16 first-leg tie tomorrow night and not for the Portuguese.

He said: "At the time, if I am honest about it, I did have thoughts about going to Inter. It was a difficult time for me in my life, things had happened for me personally and everybody knows how I feel about Jose Mourinho.

"It was never a case of wanting to leave Chelsea to go to a team in England, that would be impossible for me. I'd like to finish my career here now without a doubt, but then I didn't know quite what I wanted to do.

"I thought maybe it was something I could do as a different path in my life but it is the best thing I have done, not going to Inter, because once I got my head straight I realised what I wanted to do and realised what Chelsea have given me.

"I'll never forget what my Mum and my Dad said to me all the time — don't forget when you walk away from the ground everyone is singing your name, don't forget what these people have given to a West Ham boy moving across London. That kind of thing made me think and I am positive that I made the right decision.

"My family always wanted me to stay at Chelsea. A lot of things had happened in my life and I was thinking, do I want to get away from it? It would have been the wrong decision.

"Inter Milan are a fantastic club with a great manager but they are not Chelsea and now I feel Chelsea is part of me. I am very pleased now that I can finish my career here and looking back I would have hated to have left after a few years having done well but not done the whole package. Now hopefully I can do that."

Lampard won two League titles under Mourinho, who has gone on to win the Championship with Inter. Yet the 31-year-old believes the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti has given Chelsea the best chance of lifting the one trophy to elude him so far, the Champions League.

He told Chelsea TV: "The thing that is similar in their styles as managers is that they both build a good bond with the team. You will always find that if managers get that bond with players they will get the best out of them.

"It is very important that when we work, we work hard and Ancelotti is very strong on that too. When we're off the pitch he's someone you talk to about anything you want and you're not scared of him. Everyone at Chelsea relates to that."

Lampard feels it will be another big admirer of Mourinho from inside the Chelsea dressing room who will be the difference in this tie.

Didier Drogba had his best-ever goalscoring campaign in Mourinho's last full season in England when he netted 33 times, but he is on course to beat it this term having scored 25 goals.

Lampard insists the Ivory Coast international leaves all other strikers in the shade and said: "He's the best and his all-round game is fantastic.

"Wayne Rooney is the only one that touches him and they're head to head in the battle for best player of the season. When he is as good as he was against Arsenal, Cardiff and Wolves there is no one better."

Ancelotti, boosted by Lampard's return, has been handed a huge tactical dilemma after Yury Zhirkov lost his battle to recover from a calf injury in time to face Inter.

The manager does not have a fit left- back to choose from with Zhirkov joining Ashley Cole, who has a fractured ankle, on the sidelines. The Russian international sustained the problem against Wolves, but it was hoped he would be able to recover.

However, he has been left behind in London as has Paulo Ferreira because he was not registered in Chelsea's Champions League squad.

Ancelotti will now decide whether to employ midfielder Florent Malouda in the back four instead, although as Juliano Belletti has recovered from a knee injury, the Italian may choose to play the latter at right-back and move Branislav Ivanovic to the other flank.

Alex (knee) has also made a full recovery but Deco (knee) is still ruled out.

Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insists Carlos Tevez will be back in England to face Chelsea in the League on Saturday.

The striker had returned to his native Argentina following the premature birth of his daughter.