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My road to Hell
DIDIER DROGBA insists that The Road to Munich has become The Road to Hell.
The Chelsea striker scored the only goal as his team upset the odds to beat Barcelona 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.
Wednesday's shock victory keeps the Blues in contention to reach the final in Munich next month.
But Barca's dominance in the first leg was such that Drogba says he felt like he was standing on a hard shoulder as he gave them the cold shoulder.
The official stats showed the Catalans had an incredible 79 PER CENT of the possession in the match.
And they had 24 shots—blocked or otherwise — compared to Chelsea's four.
Drogba scored with the only shot on target by the Stamford Bridge side — but that told only half of the story of his night.
When he was not throwing himself to the floor theatrically he was busy scurrying back, doubling as an extra midfielder and making some important defensive headers in his own box.
He admitted: "It was a difficult game for me because Barcelona had such a lot of possession.
"It's quite difficult to play against them. They are a really good team, a very good team.
"Every time I got the ball I looked up and the goal seemed really far away, like on the M25."
London's orbital motorway is, of course, dubbed 'The Road to Hell'.
But Drogba's winning goal against Barca on the stroke of half-time took Chelsea a step closer to heaven.
It was the 155th time he had scored for the Blues and he said: "It was one of the most important goals of my whole career — and it was good it came just before half time."
Drogba's winner against Barcelona came just three days after he scored a cracker in Chelsea's 5-1 FA Cup semifinal victory against Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday.
On that basis we can assume he loves the big games. But he insisted: "No, I just love the game. I just love playing.
"Every time I have a chance to perform I want to do my best. I know I am lucky to be on pitches like Wembley and Stamford Bridge, because so many players want to be a professional and have the same career and don't.
"So I try to enjoy it. I am really happy every time I go on the pitch."
The sight of Drogba smiling at the snd of the match was in stark contrast the shots of him swearing into a TV ;amera after the previous Champions ,eague semi-final between the clubs That was, of course, when Barca :ook advantage of some highly ;ontroversial refereeing decisions by !bm Henning Ovrebo to progress to Le final courtesy of a last-gasp 1-1 in London in the second leg.
Chelsea looked pumped up for •evenge on Wednesday. But Drogba added: "No, I don't think we had anything to prove. What we have don in the past few years is already a bi: achievement.
"We didn't play to prove anythinj we just play to qualify.
"We've played the first leg and woi it. Now we have another leg coming hope we'll be up for it."
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiol; insists Chelsea are now favourites t get through to the final.
But those who saw the way th Spaniards completely controlled th first leg will not be so sure.
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said: "It's going to be really tough in the away leg. I think we can score in the Nou Camp — we'll get a chance. The lads say the pitch is massive.
"It's going to be tough, playing them on any pitch will be tough, but playing them on their massive pitch will be extra tough.
"But if we put in a performance like we did in the first leg then we will not go far wrong.
"It's going to be tough to keep a clean sheet, so we will probably have to score.
"We're under no illusions how tough it will be away from home but we've made a great start."
And if Chelsea do get a chance in the Nou Camp on Tuesday then do not back against 'you know who' scoring it.
Cahill said: "Drogba is in good form. He was fantastic in the Tottenham game last weekend, so he's a big man for the big occasion.
"Whenever I'd played against Chelsea before, I'd never been on the end of a positive result.
"It's hard against Drogba. To have him and Fernando Torres is brilliant for us.
"Drogba had a hard job in the first leg and maybe he was a bit isolated at times. But defensively he helped out.
"There were a number of times when he was in the box next to me, clearing headers out.
"We stuck to the plan and it worked out.
"Didier is unplayable at times, he's one of the best forwards in the world.
"He's fantastic. He was fantastic against Barcelona and I thought he was fantastic against Tottenham as well."
