Wednesday 17 September 2014 19:09, UK
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is ready for the ‘special’ challenge of the Champions League ahead of Wednesday’s Sky Live game with Schalke.
Chelsea won the trophy in 2012 and made it to the semi-finals of last season’s competition before being knocked out by Atletico Madrid.
Ivanovic is keen to taste European glory again and insists the rest of the squad are also fired up.
“I think the Champions League is a competition that everyone wants to win, all the players and all of the football people,’ he told Chelsea’s official website.
“It’s special for all of us, we are ready and we are excited the Champions League is starting again.
“Motivation remains the same whether it’s the group stage or knockout rounds, it’s different to any other competition but all I can say is that the motivation is always high.
“The games are different every year, you can’t compare them. Last year we were very close to the final.
“At the moment we are playing with a lot of confidence so we can do better (than reaching the semi-final), but the season is long, this is just the first game, it’s a very difficult match for us.”
Chelsea’s 2013/14 Champions League campaign began with a 2-1 home defeat to Basel and Ivanovic is adamant they will not be complacent again, despite facing a Schalke team they defeated 3-0 home and away at the same stage of last season’s competition.
“We have a good example from last year and we know every game is difficult in the Champions League,” added the Serbia international.
“We have to be focused from the first minute, we know Schalke are a good side, we played against them last year and this season they are even better and stronger. The first game is at home and it’s very important for us to start well.
“We know they have problems in defence, we will try to expose that, but they are a good side and stay very compact.
“It’s the first game and you always look far ahead but we have to be focused on Schalke, it’s the most important game right now.”
Watch Chelsea against Schalke in the Champions League. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7:30pm on Wednesday.
