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.
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.
Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes playing the second leg at the Mestalla could be an 'important and even decisive' factor in his side's Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.
The only Spanish side left in the competition, following the exits of Barcelona and Real Madrid at the last-16 stage, were handed the unenviable task of facing the Premiership champions in today's draw in Athens. But Flores was being positive, and reckons home advantage in the return meeting could be vital.
He told club the club's official website: 'It will be a difficult tie but, next to Liverpool, they are the opponents most similar to us.
'The best news is that we are playing away (in the first leg), which was a priority for us before the draw. That can be important, and even decisive.'
A 0-0 draw at the Mestalla was enough for Sanchez Flores' men to go through against Inter Milan in midweek on away goals following a 2-2 draw in Milan a fortnight ago, although both clubs have been charged by UEFA following a brawl which marred the end of the second leg.
Sanchez Flores added: 'We do not use tags such as favourites, the important thing is to have concentration and to work like we have done in the previous rounds.
'Another important factor will be how we arrive at the quarter-finals because they are a month away, during which time we have four league games, where the confidence levels can go up or down, and there is the possibility of recovering some (injured) players.'
Valencia sporting director Amedeo Carboni was a proud man to be the only sporting director of a Spanish club still standing.
He said on Sky Sports News: 'It's the first time Valencia are the only Spanish team in the quarter-final. I am very happy about this. We have many possibilities to reach the final.'
The winners of the two-legged affair will face PSV Eindhoven or Liverpool in the last four, throwing up the possibility of a semi-final reunion with former coach Rafael Benitez.
But Carboni played down that prospect, adding: 'The present is more important. Winning against Chelsea is very difficult but if we win, it is possible to beat Liverpool.'
Valencia fullback Asier del Horno has said he hopes the inside knowledge of his former club Chelsea will help his side.
'It will be great to return and see the people there, but this is a quarter-final and I have to put that to one side and make the most of what I know about the team,' Del Horno told a news conference on Friday.
'They were a team to avoid, but it is in our favour that we play the second leg in the Mestalla. They will be favourites so we will be out of the limelight.
'If we remain humble we have a chance to spring a surprise.' The Spain defender only just made his debut in Valencia's 1-0 home win over Celta Vigo last weekend, eight months after moving from Chelsea.
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