Carlo Ancelotti hailed Didier Drogba as the best striker in the world last night after his goals helped Chelsea to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League with two matches to spare.

The Ivory Coast striker returned from his three-match European ban in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in the space of six second-half minutes to put Chelsea on course for a fourth successive win in the competition, before Sergio Agüero scored his second goal in injury time to earn Atlético Madrid a 2-2 draw at the Vicente Calderón. Drogba has scored 12 goals in 13 matches this season and Ancelotti insists he has no equal.

“He’s the best in the world, for sure, and I want to keep him,” the Chelsea manager said. “I wouldn’t want to change him for any other striker.

“He is in a good moment. You can look always at his work, and I’m very happy for his behaviour. I hope that he can continue. At this moment he has a good feeling with his behaviour.”

Ancelotti believes that Drogba’s resurgence stems from disappointment at being suspended for his outburst against Barcelona after the semi-final second leg of the competition last season, which led him to starting the present campaign determined to prove a point to his detractors. The Italian shrugged off the concession of an injury-time equaliser and expressed his determination to win the group by beating Porto at the Dragão Stadium in three weeks’ time.

“I think that he was motivated at the start of the season,” Ancelotti said after last night’s match. “He’s doing well and continuing to do well. We hope he can play other games like he did tonight. He’s a striker who scored two goals, and puts in very important work.

“It’s no good conceding a goal in stoppage time, but it can happen. We’re in the knockout phase with two matches to go, and now we have two games to finish first. Atlético played well, but we gave a very good reaction to conceding the opening goal.”

Drogba admitted that Chelsea already have one eye on Sunday’s meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, a distraction that may have played a part in their lethargic performance.

“I think we were also thinking about Sunday’s game,” he said. “We did everything we had to do \. It is really important for us to beat United at home. We have to improve and show different qualities and be better than we were in Madrid.

“I had to win and gave everything. Even when they scored we kept going and played better when they scored. We scored twice, but it wasn’t enough to win the game.

“I think I’m playing the best football of my career, but a few years ago I was playing with the same confidence. I always score when I play injury-free. I hope it will be the same to the end of the season.”