Didier Drogba's emotions sometimes get the better of him in the Champions League, and the Chelsea striker admits he will struggle to contain them against his former club Marseille on Wednesday.
Drogba has become a world star since he joined Chelsea six years ago, but often speaks about how he owes Marseille a huge debt of gratitude for giving him the chance to shine.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed by it all," Drogba said. "I'm trying not to mix everything up. In any case, I am submerged with so many emotions that I don't really know what I should expect. It feels really weird."
He plundered 32 goals in 55 games in his one and only season with Marseille in 2004 when it lost the UEFA Cup final, catching former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho's eye.
"I can't wait to be there, and my teammates will finally discover the Stade Velodrome I've been telling them so much about," he said. "At the end of the match, I will go and visit the (home) changing room."
Chelsea tops Group F after five straight wins, Marseille has nine and finishes second whatever happens.
Drogba will start the match, but coach Carlo Ancelotti will rest striker Nicolas Anelka and defender Ashley Cole.
"He's very excited about the idea of playing here," Ancelotti said. "He has a lot of good memories with this club."
Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is concerned with how his defense will play after Sunday's 1-0 loss at Nice.
"Whether it's Didier Drogba or another player, we'll do everything we can to not concede a goal," he said.
The 32-year-old Drogba has helped Chelsea to domestic honors, but has never won the Champions League, where his performances have been overshadowed by his outbursts and antics.
He was sent off in the 2008 final for slapping Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, and Chelsea lost on penalties.
His frustrations boiled over again when Chelsea was knocked out of the semifinals by Barcelona the following season. Drogba angrily confronted the referee at the end and then glared into a TV camera shouting obscenities. UEFA gave him a lengthy ban and he apologized.
Despite considerable adulation in England, Drogba still pines for Marseille.
When Marseille lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the group game in September, Drogba was given a loud ovation by a handful of traveling fans. This time 60,000 will acclaim him at Stade Velodrome.
"It's the first time that I'm experiencing such a situation. I've been back to Guingamp, to Le Mans, but I admit this is really special," Drogba said. "Even more so after the reception I got at Stamford Bridge."
Drogba's rise surprised many as he struggled in the second division with Le Mans, then mid-table Guingamp in the first division. Marseille's gamble paid off when he joined Chelsea for 24 million pounds.
His return is not in ideal circumstances, either, with Chelsea badly struggling for form.
Carlo Ancelotti's team has just one win in five games and the goals have dried up for Drogba.
"I'm in a bit of a difficult period," Drogba said. "I'm coming back from illness (a bout of malaria) and that weakened me."
Drogba has not managed a goal from open play for two months and has scored only twice in his last 10 games, both from the penalty spot.
Nicolas Anelka has not scored in six games, winger Florent Malouda has managed one in his last 10.
They formed a ruthless attacking trio to lead Chelsea to a domestic league and cup double last season, and seemed unstoppable as Chelsea rattled in 21 goals in its first five league games this time.
Since November, Chelsea has lost to Liverpool, Sunderland and Birmingham and drawn against Newcastle and Everton.
Ancelotti's team selection on Wednesday will be shaped by upcoming Premier League games against Tottenham, United and Arsenal that could decide whether Chelsea stays in the title hunt.
Chelsea's young-looking squad features Jacopo Sala (19), Billy Clifford (18), Josh McEachran (17), Gael Kakuta (19), Patrick van Aanholt (20) and Jeffery Bruma (19).
In Group F's other game, Zilina has no points and hosts Spartak Moscow, which has already qualifed for the Europa League.
Zilina coach Pavel Hapal is without injured midfielder Stefan Zosak, but otherwise has a full squad.
"We have only one thing in mind - to get points," Hapal said.
