Chelsea legend Didier Drogba admitted it was “special” to welcome his ex team-mates to Istanbul, as the sides battled out a 1-1 draw in the last-16 of the Champions League.
It was the first time the Ivory Coast international had lined up against Chelsea since his final kick secured European Cup glory two years ago.
Chelsea could have done with the Ivorian’s finishing prowess as yet another game goes by when the Blues were left ruing their forward options, although Torres scored he missed a golden chance to put Chelsea 2-0 up which would have left the Turkish Champions with a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Drogba didn’t manage to score this time around but posed a threat throughout, though he believes the result still gives his side a great chance of reaching the next round.
The Blues hero said: “It was a special game, to play against my old team-mates.
“I didn’t get a lot of chances but the header was perfect – well, not perfect because I didn’t score, but it was a great cross, I wish I could have scored this one but there is another game.”
“Chelsea are the better team on paper but second half we showed we can create them some problems. Now we have to go out and do it at Stamford Bridge.”
“They played on the counter-attack and we were a bit naive two or three times. We know they are dangerous, we have to work on that and solve these problems.”
Lampard disappointed with result.
Frank Lampard was left disappointed after Chelsea surrendered a crucial one-goal advantage in their last-16 first leg at Galatasaray.
The Turk Telecom Arena is normally a fortress for Galatasaray and a cauldron for visiting sides, but Chelsea will leave Istanbul feeling that they could have taken a crucial 1-0 away result back to Stamford Bridge.
Only a rare mistake from Chelsea defender and Captain John Terry allowed the Turkish Champions to equalise in the 64th minute but Chelsea look well placed to qualify for the last 16.
Chelsea took the lead when Torres opened the scoring in the first half, but a goal from Galatasaray defender Aurelien Chedjou ensured that Chelsea head back to the Bridge with work to do.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Lampard said: “Its half time, but I would not say it’s a great result, they are a strong team so we are a bit disappointed.”
“We sat back a little bit and did a few things that were disappointing, so we know we have work to do at home.”
“When it’s 1-0 with the atmosphere you know they will be in the game. It’s one of the atmospheres you play football for, so credit to their fans.”
Lampard still thinks Drogba will be a handful in the return leg: “He is a great lad, it was an honour to play against him, and to play with him for years. We’ll have to watch him back at the Bridge.”
This result highlights Chelsea’s need to buy a prolific and top class striker, with the ageing Eto’o, the goal shy Fernando Torres and the absent Demba Ba seemingly not up to Mourinho’s standards at present.
With the likes of Falcao, Jackson Martinez of Porto and previously Wayne Rooney and Robert Lewandowski, it’s glaringly obvious that Chelsea are at least two strikers short but this will seemingly not cost them this tie or potentially the Premier League but expect a summer clear out of sorts in the striking department.
