CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti was a happy man after his side secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League even though the Blues could not continue their perfect record in Group D at Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea had looked on course to make it four wins out of four when Didier Drogba struck in the 82nd and 88th minutes to cancel out Sergio Aguero's opener for Atletico.
However, Chelsea would end up having to settle for a draw as Aguero curled home
a brilliant injury-time free-kick to level the scores up at 2-2 after a frantic last ten minutes.
Aguero's double strike were the first goals Chelsea have conceded in the group stages and also meant the Blues dropped their first points, but Ancelotti preferred to look at the positives.
When asked if he was frustrated not to have won, the Italian said: "No frustration. It's not great to concede a goal in the last minute, but that can happen. We are in the next phase of the Champions League and this is important with two matches still to take place.
"That was a difficult match because Atletico played very well and I think the result is good. They put a lot of pressure on us in first half but I think we did well – not the best but it was good."
Drogba earned the headlines on his return to European action after serving a three-match suspension following an incident in last year's semi-final against Barcelona. He was handed the ban due to a foul-mouthed confrontation with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of the second leg after Chelsea had exited the competition.
The in-form striker, who has scored nine goals in the Premier League already this season, returned in style though and Ancelotti was full of praise for the Ivory Coast international.
"Didier is an important player for us. We have a lot of important players but he is doing very well and we are happy," said Ancelotti, who did not feel that Drogba was necessarily extra motivated. "He was motivated at the start of the season and has been doing very well and continues to do very well, and I hope he can play in other games like he did tonight," said Ancelotti, whose side face a huge match with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge this weekend. "He is in a good moment, I'm very happy. I hope he can continue."
While Chelsea celebrated a place in the next stage of the Champions League, Atletico must turn their attentions to trying to guarantee themselves a place in the Europa League as a top-two spot is now beyond the Spanish side.
Atletico Madrid: S Asenjo, Perea, Pablo, Juanito, A Lopez, Reyes (Maxi 72), P Assuncao, C Santana, Simao (Jurado 84), Pongolle (Aguero 53), Forlan. Subs not used: De Gea, Raul Garcia, Ujfalusi, Dominguez. Booked: Reyes, Assuncao.
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Alex, Terry, A Cole, Malouda, Essien (Ballack 59), J Cole (Deco 70), Lampard, Drogba, Kalou (Anelka 70). Subs not used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Sturridge. Booked: Essien, Terry.
