Didier Drogba has fuelled the war of words with Rafael Benitez before tonight's Champions League semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge by claiming that he has lost all respect for the Liverpool manager after he accused the Ivory Coast forward of "falling down too easily".

The Spaniard has condemned Drogba's “falls” and “slips”, citing a four-year video dossier proving as much, but the Chelsea forward has hit back by accusing Benitez of distorting reality to hide the shortcomings of his own team.

"Perhaps he is looking for something to destabilise us before the match," Drogba said.

"Benitez was a manager I respected a lot. Until now, I found him not only very competent but also classy. But he has really disappointed me here. His words demonstrate a weakness. A top manager would never go so low to attack a player. Maybe he should concentrate on his own team's game and if he wants me to stay on my feet, maybe he should tell his defenders to stop hitting me.

"In the first leg, Carragher and the other one (Skrtel) didn't stop. And not just with me. I finished the match with bruises everywhere. Last year, I broke a rib against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final. Strangely, that escapes the statistics of Benitez. It will not affect me. If I fall, I will always get up. The best response I can give will be on the pitch."

Despite John Arne Riise's 95th-minute own goal at Anfield last week, Drogba is wary of dismissing Liverpool's chances.

"His [Benitez's] team is more attacking," he added. "He has more weapons in attack, with Fernando Torres in particular. But I find them less balanced and more vulnerable in defence. They give you more space. The Liverpool of 2005 and 2007 defended better. But the team is still very strong."

The forward clashed with Michael Ballack, the Chelsea midfielder, over the taking over a free kick during Saturday's Premier League victory over Manchester United, but Drogba has played down the angry exchange.

"There was a lot of tension and emotion on the pitch, it was a big match and we clashed," Drogba said. "These things happen and five minutes later, everything was forgotten. Ballack is someone I really appreciate, as a player and as a man. He has had to work really hard this season but he has come back very strong. He is making the difference. He is Chelsea's most important player at the moment."