Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he and his teammates are not at all worried about Liverpool scuppering their plans to lift this year's Champions League trophy. The Ivorian fully expects to be celebrating in Moscow next month.

No Fear

“We’ve nothing to be scared of," he told The Sun ahead of tonight's first leg at Anfield. “I’m not in the least bit worried about them. They may have beaten us in the last two Euro semis but this Chelsea team is perfectly capable of winning at Anfield. And how absolutely beautiful that would be!”

Strong Start Required

And by starting strongly tonight the striker believes Chelsea can extinguish the atmosphere and set things up perfectly to deliver the knock-out blow down in London.

“The key is to get hold of the tie at Anfield from the start," he explained. "And I think it’s also vital that this semi will be decided at Stamford Bridge, which neither of our two previous defeats to Liverpool have been.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant insisted that morale is high at the Bridge, and hit out at what he sees as media interference that tries to imply the contrary,

The Israeli boss told Chelsea TV, "The mood is fantastic, the atmosphere is fantastic, the players behave as they need to behave. Everything is good."

He added that there was a bunker mentality around the club that sought to turn media rumour-mongering on its head.

"I learn one thing in Chelsea is that some people from outside have an agenda to hurt us and to create a story that never happened," he seethed.

"If we were not like this we would not be in second place, we would not be in the semi-final of the Champions League, we would not be unbeaten more than any team in the Premier League.

"The players are not even angry. They are almost laughing because you need to be of a creative mind to create stories like this."

As well as morale being high in the dressing room, the manager closed by insisting that the rapport between the squad and the fans was as strong as ever.

"They speak about the supporters that don't support us. Most of the supporters support us. We play for them, we play for the last supporter who is in the last row," he insisted.

"I believe in that, we are doing it for them, they are doing it for us. They need to respect us, we need to respect them, and together we will do it."

@Jackal
I told you many times already, you're getting too predictable, I was even using a stopwatch to count how long before u metion our trophyless season
Anywayz, I don't blame you, it's Wenger I blame. . .if only he listened to Billy's plea to buy more players
Billy was a title challenging captain in a team that had just lost three strong players (Henry, Pires, Ljungberg)
He drove the team pushed the team harder than Henry did

Come to think of it, he's being a captain for just one season and u're saying he failed Arsenal
Blimey!!!this dude brought out the best in Walcott, Fabreagas, Clichy and the rest of the team
Because we faild to cross the thin line, which was even Wenger's fault, u're putting the blame on him

Liverpool 5: 0 Chelsea

@ Eldee,

May thunder fire your keyboard!!!

Gallas brung out the best in which players?
Fabregas? Walcott? Clichy? Why not include Adebayor, Almunia and Eduardo?
Blimey. . . . I should also say Gary Neville(without kicking a ball) brung out the best in Ronaldo, Anderson and Rio!!!!

Take off your rose tinted specs for once.
Arsenal failed to cross the finish line was due to Gallas' petulance. . . . U dont need rocket science to figure that out.
All he had to do against the Brummies was to cheer Clichy up and support Almunia. . . his confidence might have rattled McFadden!!!
Did u see Rio blaming Wes Brown for bringing down the Roma player @ OT? What happened afterwards? The plonker blew his chance!!!

William Gallas should learn to be a leader.

@ Eldee
u took the words outta my mouth.
Billy has only been captain for one season.
U would have thought he has led arsenal for the last 3 seasons

Only in Arsenal can somebody just walk into a team and become captain.

Well, thats french connection.

Can he shout on Ricardo and Terry in Chelsea?

Fortunately, he caused most of the goals that wreck Arsenal's season.

He claimed his friends are in Chelsea NOt arsenal.

He forgot that Theo, Clichy and the rest are fellow Collegues NOT servants.

Respect begat Respect.

Wow, its so kool to know that Nigerians are still keeping the faith on Chelsea fc, ya'll needed to watch our darling team train on Sunday morning, although it rained a little, the team went on training, and no one needed shelter, i must say we are in so much high spirit at the moment,and we are not going to Anfield to mope, but we are going all out to shop for goals, watch out for Didier Drogba, when he dismisses questions from the press, he comes out with the good,and he's done that again for over foure training sessions now. Franky never trained on sunday morning, but i heard he'll join the team at Anfield, I believe we'll get it right this time. Lets give Granta chance, at least till the end of this season.

Peace out folks.

I'm a Blues Boy, come winter,summer or stormy weather.

Its a make or mar game, there is no hiding place for the Reds at Anfield.At the end of the day, there fans will walk alone.

It's time my people. Liverpool has been overly confindent andd they might be surprised and what makes it worse is Benitez's comments earlier in the week. Well we have to wait and see.

The key to winning this tie, in my opinion is to score at least 2 times at anfield. If we do then we have done a good job as we can consolidate at the Bridge. If we don't score up to twice, it will be difficult to win the 2 legs. The guys have to come together for once and decide to win this. Everyone must be in their best forms. It's has to be this time around we push the away. If we win them we will win the Champions League.


It's time to show our best!!!!

@illusion2

You are really under illusion.

Chelsea is my favourite in todays' match. I am tired of seeing Liverpool in the finals.


Goodluck to you guys

'horizo
Na u get ur key board o !!  

how come nobodi is analysing the game.

Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll numba one more is coming
man United V Liverfool in Moscow

That was Lampard fault

dirk kuyt with a brilliant low shot

Here we go again

Na Rob them Rob Chelsea.

There is a chance for a draw in this match.

And I think if anyone would win it will be Chelsea.

We are still much in the game. No Shaking boys!!!

Lampard need to be fined 1 month wages for that nonsense. £140,000 a week? You're having a laugh!

Drogba is playing well, Ferreira is maintaining. I can see the reason for playing Malouda rather than Kalou. He is more defensively aware. Apart from that, we need to buck up our ideas.

First half gone and I am being reminded of this all over again. Someone needs to explain to me what Lampard was trying to do there.
Drogba's passes are the most awful for a striker.
Mr Tweedy has been terrible.

I hope the 2nd half turns around . . . we need a goal

Makalele has to take more responsibility for the goal. That is no way to defend.

Obi would give more fluidity and possibly bring our midfield into d game.

We need to take control.

@Ibime
We need Ideas like you said. .  Kalou should come in for Malouda. . he is just a waste of selection.
A million pound mistake is what Lamps has made. . because we need 2 goals all of a sudden to make up for that mistake.

Well I had always thot we need 2 goals at Anfield if we intend to qualify.

@Somze

Are you saying Maka should be blamed for the goal?

,

@ nateevs,

Frank Lampard should be blamed.
He is an idiot not doing the simple thing. . . . . .PUT THE DANGER AWAY, ASK QUESTIONS LATER.
His stupidity at the edge of the box allowed the Scousers to nick the ball thus putting Claude Makalele in an uncompromising position.

I just hope Chelsea turns this around cos u have been the better side in the opening exchanges.
If only Joe Cole had taken his chance and Carragher's rugby tackle on Drogba. . . . .
Dont despair, son. . . . . . .Just a goal. . . . U need just a goal to open up Liverpool like chicken cordon bleu!!

Chelsea is doing the right thing what they need now is a goal.

@Mr Grant

Remove Ballack nowww

Well done ricardo

Torres just dey fight Karate

Where is Anelka We need result here! Malouda should go get some rest. Bring in The Sulks.

@ Akolawole,

Are u watching this game at all?
Remove Ballack or remove Lamps?
Lampard is hobbling around like a pregnant buffalo. . . . He has allowed Alonso and Mascherano to dominate the midfield.

Chelsea's best bet is to use the long ball. . . . .
Cech should start their one-way football. . . . Defence to Attack: One pass . . . . Cech to Drogba(one pass)!!!
Chelsea can still win this game. . . . I wanna see Anelka and Drogba rattle the Liverpool defence(they have been too comfy at the back).