Villa sets sights on Chelsea

Valencia CF striker David Villa has a simple response to those who wonder whether he is in the form of his life going into the visit of Chelsea FC: "Hopefully I'll be asked that again after the game, because that would mean things have gone well for me and the team."

Riding high
Villa has scored in Valencia's two league wins in the last week – their run shows five successive Primera División victories – and it was also his goal that helped the Spanish club off to a UEFA Champions League flier on Matchday 1 at the expense of FC Schalke 04. That away success gives Valencia the upper hand as they take on the side widely expected to be their main rivals in UEFA Champions League Group B.

'Good run'
Naturally, the 25-year-old agrees that it is always better for a player in his position "when the goals come". As regards the million-dollar question, he answers it in a way that will surprise no one who has admired the unselfish way he leads the forward line: "I don't know if I'm at my best at the moment but the most important thing for me is that we get the three points, because the team are enjoying a good run of luck right now."

Essien winner
If not the kind of thing that players discuss openly, the hordes who will fill the steep stands of the Mestalla hoping to cheer their team to victory will certainly have revenge in mind. It is a legacy of Michael Essien's last-minute winner at the stadium last April, which raised Chelsea colours at the climax of an epic quarter-final in this competition.

Previous meeting
"These are different circumstances," Spanish international Villa said. "Last season we were in a bad way after being eliminated because we had dreamed about the match and going through and then they scored right at the end. The difference now is that nothing will be won or lost – we still have the return to come and we must wait until then to see which of these strong teams will come out on top."

Terry hope
This time there will be no José Mourinho to raise the temperature of the contest after the Chelsea manager left his Stamford Bridge post following the 1-1 home draw with Rosenborg BK two weeks ago. But amazingly, John Terry could still be lining up in direct opposition to Villa despite the fractured cheekbone which required surgery two days ago.

Villa praise
Chelsea were seeking medical advice after Tuesday's training session at the Mestalla in which Terry donned a protective mask. "If there is one player on this earth who can face this kind of situation, it's John Terry," Villa said. "But we're not obsessing about it – if it's not him out there, it will be another player and we will be trying to do our best against him too."