Del Horno glad to be back

Tuesday, 3 April 2007
by Trevor Haylettfrom London
Asier del Horno returns to UEFA Champions League action for the first time in over 13 months and fate has decreed that his comeback game should take him to the ground and the club that witnessed his last appearance in the competition.
Red cardDel Horno has recovered from the serious calf injury that delayed his UEFA Champions League debut for Valencia CF and seems certain to start their quarter-final first leg against Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge. It was there that he last featured in Europe's premier club tournament, a first knockout round match against FC Barcelona in February 2006 which ended early and disappointingly for him with a red card after 37 minutes.
Enjoyable timeDel Horno insists he has nothing to prove as he revisits London. He is thankful for his time under José Mourinho but remains determined to help the Primera División team advance at the expense of his former employers. "I had a very good year and I enjoyed my time here, but I don't think I have to take any kind of exam tomorrow," said the Spanish international left-back. "I have been out for a long time and it's great to be playing again. I'm focused on the task ahead and it's important that Valencia put in a good performance."
'Difficult rivals'Del Horno's recent past might have made him a useful source of information for coach Quique Sánchez Flores, yet he says that at this stage of the competition no side retain any secrets from the opposition. "Everyone knows Chelsea very well. Whoever plays for them, we know they will be difficult rivals but we are not going to concentrate on them. We have to play our own game," continued the ex-Athletic Club Bilbao defender.
New systemHe does stress, though, the difficulties the 2000 and 2001 finalists face against opponents he believes are stronger than the team he left behind last summer. "Chelsea have changed their system a little bit and whereas before they liked to attack down the wings, now they play through the middle. But when you think that they have the likes of [Michael] Ballack and [Andriy] Shevchenko down the middle, they are a very strong side." Valencia will be happy with a draw at Stamford Bridge, continued Del Horno, and preferably a scoring one as they achieved en route to eliminating FC Internazionale Milano in the previous round. "It's very important that we score. It was vital in the away leg against Inter and we are hoping to do the same again."
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