Drogba eases Scolari's nerves

Chelsea FC manager Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted feeling nervous after relinquishing the lead against CFR 1907 Cluj, but was delighted with the impact of Didier Drogba whose winning goal on his return from injury confirmed the London side's place in the knockout phase from Group A. CFR coach Maurizio Trombetta reflected on two "naive" errors which he said cost his side the game, but declared the Romanian titleholders' first experience of the UEFA Champions League as "excellent".

Luiz Felipe Scolari, Chelsea manager
We are second [in the group] but what I said before, if we have 12 points, we are first, eleven second, and now we wait for what happens in the draw. For me it is no different to play Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, any team, because they are the best. I don't choose one team to play. I think we played well, not very well, but well. We had more of the ball but [CFR] played the counterattack well and have a good group spirit. We played well and had the spirit I want my team to have in all the competitions. [On nerves at 1-1] Not only for me, but my players and maybe some people in the crowd because in that time we were drawing and they only had one or two chances and had scored. We had three or four and had not scored more, so we were more nervous than before. [Drogba's return] is important for me because he is one of the best in the world and I have more options. It is important for me but don't forget we arrived in this position, second position here and in the Premier League, because our scorer is [Nicolas] Anelka. Drogba is important and one of the best in the world but I need to think about Anelka and say to you Anelka is as important as Drogba.

Maurizio Trombetta, CFR coach
Sadly we could not spring another surprise. We had the chance at 1-1 but Chelsea then went and scored on the counterattack. We were under a little bit of pressure during the match because Chelsea played a good game. They [Chelsea] suffered a bit psychologically when we equalised but they then went and scored and that was that. I think we played well tonight, but it would have been a totally different situation if we had been able to profit from out matches against Bordeaux. In fact we lost everything against Bordeaux. The two goals we conceded were a little bit naive and on the pitch of a team like Chelsea, such naivities are punished. Regardless, I think that our participation in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League has been an excellent experience for us.