Didier Drogba said he believes Chelsea have learnt lessons from their Champions League exit in 2009 after securing a 1-0 win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba scored the only goal of the game – with Chelsea’s only shot on target – on the stroke of half-time to give the Blues every chance of reaching the final at the Allianz Arena.
The hosts had to withstand heavy pressure and rode their luck on several occasions, but Drogba felt it was a more mature Blues side than the one eliminated by Andres Iniesta’s goal at this stage three years ago.
“I think we’ve learnt,” Drogba told ITV. “We’ve improved from three years ago. We didn’t concede a goal.
“We are happy because the result is a good one. Now we’ll go there to try to score another and qualify – 1-0 at home is a good result.”
Captain John Terry added: “We had to be very patient. I don’t think we touched the ball for the first 15 minutes but from Didi on his own up front, the midfield and defence, it was a great team performance. They’re a great side.”
Chelsea will face a real test of their mettle when they travel to the Camp Nou for Tuesday’s return leg, but Terry is hopeful they can get a positive result and reach the final: “It’s going to be tough going back there.
“They had chances, we cleared a couple off the line, and quite clearly they’re going to have chances there, but we showed tonight we’re not in awe of them. Another performance like tonight and we’ll be okay.”
Terry also had words of praise for Drogba, who impressed in the 5-1 FA Cup victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
“Didi is all about these big nights, the big occasions,” Terry said. “He put fear into the Spurs defence at the weekend and he did that again tonight. He was up there on his own against some of best defenders in world and he did it brilliantly.”
