THE FOCUS has fixed on Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s Holy Trinity of attackers, and whether they will illuminate tonight’s contest, yet one in Chelsea’s number at Camp Nou could barge the Catalans from this competition. Didier Drogba returns to an arena he has in recent years both graced and been disgraced in. He could yet prove the forward to decorate this tie.
Guus Hiddink opted against training in Barcelona last night, aware that it would be too easy for prying eyes, not least the Catalan club’s own in-house television channel, to view his last practice, though Barcelona know what is coming.
If Chelsea’s most impressive quality is their power, then Drogba is their battering ram. For the visitors to take “the initiative” in this tie, as Hiddink insists they will seek to do, then the Ivorian must be at his best. Barcelona may be a scintillating attacking force but they are vulnerable at the back. “There’ll be big clashes between big players,” said Hiddink.
Drogba has scored in his last five Champions League matches and will break a competition record if he does so again tonight. That is a warning to Carles Puyol, Rafael Marques and Gerard Pique.
“He plays in a very charismatic way, fighting for the team,” said Hiddink. “He’s very efficient with his productivity and he knows what to do. He knows, also, what not to do. That’s very important. He knows not to over-act. We haven’t spoken about that specifically but he knows how he has to play and he knows his importance.”
It was the Dutchman who brought up “over-acting”, an unsolicited reference to the darker side to Drogba’s game that occasionally detracts from his qualities.
His discipline has been tested here before. In 2005 he was dismissed for a challenge on the home side’s goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, as Chelsea succumbed.
The striker missed the rousing return but has since scored against Barcelona home and away – including the last-minute equaliser in the group stage two seasons ago – to scar these opponents in more legitimate ways.
Chelsea are generally rugged opponents and, should their record European goalscorer add to his tally of 23 goals in 47 appearances, they will be confident of emerging with their chances in the tie enhanced. “Didier is brave but the players he will be up against will be just as brave,” added Hiddink. “Much will depend upon how many players we can get coming from midfield and from the wings to support him.”
That supply line will be spearheaded by Frank Lampard in the centre and by Drogba’s close friend, Florent Malouda, from the flank. The Frenchman’s impact has been unremarkable since his arrival from Lyon in the summer of 2007, though his recent revival has hinted at the quality of which he is capable. Hiddink spoke last week of players “starting to play well in April” as if seeking to secure a contract. Malouda has already pledged his future to this club, yet his late season surge is becoming a habit.
A year ago the France international was something of a continental specialist in the last few months of the campaign, making only three domestic starts after the humbling FA Cup defeat at Barnsley in February and yet five in Europe. He has been more of a regular on both fronts this time around, though it was only at Anfield in the quarter-final first leg that he appeared completely at ease tearing into a full-back.
That level has been maintained. “Maybe my timing is right,” said Malouda. “I had a few problems physically earlier in the season but I kept working every day in training. Now you can see the results.” The same might be said of Drogba, with the pair who first struck up a relationship at Guingamp, now using their understanding to Chelsea’s benefit. It was the Frenchman’s cross that Drogba poked in from close range at Anfield to complete the visitors’ 3-1 success.
Malouda has scored more goals since Hiddink’s arrival than Nicolas Anelka and will need to ally his support of Jose Bosingwa in his unfamiliar left-back berth with supplying Drogba if the visitors are to make an impression. An evening of toil, but potentially reward, lies ahead.
