Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had sympathy for Roberto di Matteo after last night's Champions League hammering of Schalke.
Di Matteo's Schalke team were booed off at half-time and at the final whistle by the home supporters, and the Italian described the defeat as 'the most painful of his life'.
Chelsea fans did chant his name regularly throughout the match, however, and Drogba is adamant his relationship with the Blues will remain as strong as ever.
"I think we have more than this result between us," Drogba told the London Evening Standard. "It was a difficult game for him, he had a lot of injured players. We came and wanted to win. We did our job. It's difficult for him, but it doesn't change the fact he was very important for us at Chelsea.
"The Chelsea fans showed that of course. That's normal. The same way they showed support to me when Chelsea played against Galatasaray (last season), was the same respect they showed to Roberto and all that he did for us."
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