Drogba: There's no place like Rome - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Drogba: There's no place like Rome

Ivorian striker Didier Drogba wants to banish the memory of his Moscow red card by helping Chelsea to their second successive Champions League final.

Chelsea lost out on penalties in dramatic fashion to Manchester United in last season's final with Drogba sent off in the closing stages of extra-time. It meant he was absent for the penalty shoot-out, where his experience would have been vital, and that nightmare is driving him on to make amends.

"You can see that the desire to get to Rome is strong, especially after losing the final last year," said Drogba.

"We have to concentrate on Barcelona because it's not an easy game. After that, if we qualify, we'll have a lot of time to think about the final. We really want to get there again and see if we've learned from the previous Champions League final. But, again, Wednesday's game is more important than thinking about the final."

Drogba squandered a great chance to give Chelsea a vital away goal in the goalless semi-final, first leg against Barcelona and is looking to make up for his first-leg failure.

"It would have been great for Chelsea if I'd managed to score," admitted Drogba. "So I was a bit frustrated. In these kind of games, if you manage to score, it makes a big difference.

"I hope to have similar chances to make a difference. But you have to think about the team, rather than the individual. I was frustrated not to have scored, but I was also happy with the result we got there."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's interim coach Guus Hiddink has called on his players to overcome Barcelona with a combination of "intelligence and emotion".

"You have to play very intelligently against the top team in Europe now as the slightest error will be punished," warned Hiddink.

"On the other hand, you must not play without any emotion. If you do, it might put the brakes on your own performance. If you can combine both, you have a very good game."

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