Chelsea challenge vexes Valencia

Valencia CF's hopes of going one better this season after two UEFA Champions League final disappointments in 2000 and 2001 were made more complicated today after their first-ever pairing with Chelsea FC.

Fine pedigree
The Spanish club have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2002/03 campaign while Chelsea have got to at least the last eight in three of the past four seasons. With Chelsea having won the English title for the last two years and fighting for four trophies this term, Valencia, third in Spain, know they have a tough task if they are to earn a semi-final against either PSV Eindhoven or Liverpool FC. Chelsea are at home in the first leg on 4 April, before Valencia stage the return six days later.

Coach wary
"The best news is that we play away first. That's important for us, even decisive," said Valencia coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who declared his team would be the underdogs. "They are a very big club, but it suits us because it will make us concentrate and demands intensity. It will be a tough tie but, from the quarter-finals, the difference between teams is minor. We'll see what form we are in in a month's time because there are four league games in between and our confidence can either rise or fall."

Familiar face
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "I guess you'd prefer to be at home for the second leg, but at this stage you've got to go with the draw and overall we've got to be happy." Asier del Horno knows all about Chelsea, with the Valencia left-back having spent last season in west London. Del Horno, 26, has yet to play in this season's competition because of an achilles injury but is fit again. "It will be good to return to London and see people I know," he said. "But I will have to put all friendship behind me and make the most of my knowledge." Team-mates Edu, Hugo Viana and Fernando Morientes, formerly of Arsenal FC, Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC respectively, also have plenty of Premiership experience.

Ranieri connection
Another link between these opponents is Claudio Ranieri. The Italian coach, now at Parma FC, has led both with distinction in the past. He lifted the Copa del Rey in the first of two spells at Valencia, while in between he had four seasons at Chelsea, guiding them to the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The men he preceded at both clubs, Sánchez Flores and José Mourinho, have never met in UEFA competition. With the 23 May final in Athens close, each will be eager to start their association on the right foot.