Frank Lampard compares Didier Drogba to Messi & Ronaldo

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has lifted the lid on Didier Drogba’s emotions ahead of their Last 16 Champions League tie with Galatasaray this week.

Drogba, 35, spent eight years at Chelsea, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League during his time in west London and will return to Stamford Bridge for the second leg in March.

First though, Chelsea must travel to Turkey, after beating Everton on Saturday, and Lampard has given an indication of how Drogba is feeling ahead of the game, the first time he has played against his former club.

He told Chelsea TV: “I texted him after the draw because we still keep in touch. He was delighted and nervous actually because he said it would be difficult for him to come here to Stamford Bridge. He still sees it as his home and his love.

“I said to him that once he gets back and has the reaction from the fans, he will absolutely love it – both games. I’m sure he will. The draw did have an air of inevitability. It is amazing how often these things happen in football,” Lampard declared.

Drogba’s last game for Chelsea was the momentous 2012 Champions League final where the Ivorian scored an equaliser late into the game and despatched the winning penalty in the shoot-out.

Lampard added: “You will see a return of a hero and rightly so with what he did with his last kick for us. It was the best two days of my life in football terms by a million miles. It was just incredible from start to finish and every fan you talk to it is a ‘where were you when you saw it’ moment.

“But it wasn’t just that. There were finals galore, big games. In the dressing room behind the scenes he was a real leader and people didn’t see that – one that we have certainly missed, he was so complete.

“He is the best I have played with solely for the fact of doing it in big, big games. There are a lot of good players out there, but he consistently scored in finals and popped up at the right time.

“I have played against great players and Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are probably the best, but he is right up there without a doubt,” insisted Lampard.