Goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez gave the Blues a 2-1 win that day, and Given, speaking at the launch of the Paralympics World Cup which will take place in Manchester later this year, believes a repeat performance is needed this weekend.
“We’re still gutted after Wednesday night, but we’re looking forward to going to Chelsea and hopefully coming away with a good result,” he said.
It’s always a tough place to go at the best of times, but they are playing particularly well at the moment, too, so nobody is kidding themselves about the task in hand
...Shay Given
“But if we’ve got ambitions of finishing fourth we’ve got to go there and get a result. They’ve got world class players all over the pitch so it’s up to me and the rest of the team to make sure we play at the top of our game.”
Keeping Didier Drogba quiet could be the key to a City victory, though Given admits there are few better strikers than the Ivorian powerhouse.
“Drogba’s the kind of player who, when he’s playing at his best, can win a game almost single-handedly,” said Given.
“He’s one of the best players in the world and he’s got the lot - good with his right and left foot, strong in the air and quick. He is a real handful when he’s in the mood.
“We know we are capable of beating them and have done already this season but we’ll need to match that performance if we are to leave Stamford Bridge with something.
“It’s disappointing that we won’t be able to win a trophy this season, but I think finishing in one of the Champions League spots would soften the blow.
“Then, next season we can kick on again and hopefully put that right.”
