Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has praised Inter Milan for the way they played against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The temperamental forward was sent off for a petulant foul on Thiago Motta late in the game. It was a sign of his frustration on a night when the Inter defenders kept him on a tight leash.

Drogba was gracious in the post match interview however, conceding that Chelsea had been outplayed by Jose Mourinho's men.

"I think that Inter made a great match and they deserved to win," he said.

"Probably, we missed the chance in the first match in Milan, in which we had many opportunities but we failed to score more. Tonight Inter were better."

The Ivorian was sufficiently impressed by the Italians to predict that they will do very well in the Champions League.

"I think that now they can go very far in the competition," he declared.