Mata: Drogba exit hit Chelsea like electric shock

Juan Mata admits losing Didier Drogba has hurt Chelsea like an "electric shock".

The midfielder says Drogba's absence is being felt in every game.

The Blues playmaker told So Foot: "Drogba's departure was like an electric shock for us. He was a warrior.

"We've had to learn to cope without him because for many long years he was Chelsea's lightning conductor.

"With Drogba we were conditioned to play in a certain way. You gave him the ball and you knew that he would at least force the opponent into a foul.

"In a way we had a tendency to rely on him too much but it was a natural mechanism. All the great players like getting the ball, Didier even more so.

"With Fernando it's different. His runs aren't the same. He's not a funnel for our play like Drogba could be.

"He doesn't like the holding-it-up role. He prefers finding space and facing the goal."