Chelsea had looked in danger of suffering their first defeat in this year's Champions League as well as missing an early chance to book their place in the last 16 of the competition after trailing 1-0 to Atletico heading into the final 10 minutes of last night's clash at the Vicente Calderon.
But Drogba turned the game on its head with goals in the 82nd and 88th minutes to put Chelsea in charge and those strikes proved crucial in helping the Blues secure a berth in the knockout stages, even though Atletico managed to sneak a 2-2 draw thanks to Sergio Aguero's injury-time free-kick.
Drogba praised his team-mates for the way they responded to going behind to Aguero's 66th-minute opener - the first goal Chelsea have conceded in Europe this term and first in any competition in five games - and he believes they will need to show at the very least more of the same for Sunday's table-topping Premier League showdown with United.
"It was difficult because Atletico needed to win, they gave everything. But getting through is the main thing. We controlled the game and maybe we could have played better, but it was a difficult game," said Drogba, who has now netted 12 times in all competitions this season despite missing Chelsea's opening three Champions League games through suspension.
"More than the goals we've scored, it's the character of the team we showed. At 1-0 down we kept playing and we tried to come back stronger, and that's good.
"We need character (against United), it's going to be another fantastic game, maybe with more intensity and a different chip (style of play).
"We have to be better than today."
Chelsea boast a two-point lead over United at the top of the Premier League summit after winning nine of their opening 11 games and losing just twice.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have also been virtually impregnable at their Stamford Bridge fortress as well, winning all nine of their domestic and European fixtures at home whilst scoring 25 goals - of which 13 have come in the last three games - and conceding only one in the process.
With home advantage this weekend, Drogba insists the aim for his side must be to go for the victory, saying: "If we win it's going to be nice. We are top of the league and the objective when you are at home is always to win, especially against one of the contenders for the title."
While trying to reclaim the Premier League title they won in 2005 and 2006 will be high on Chelsea's agenda this season, the Champions League remains a huge target for the Blues after so many near misses over the last few years.
Since 2004, Chelsea have been runners-up once and losing semi-finalists on four occasions, but they look well equipped this season to go all the way and help the club become European champions for the first time in their history.
The final will be played in Madrid next May at the Bernabeu stadium and, having already made one trip to the Spanish capital for last night's match, Drogba is hoping to be there again in seven months' time.
"The Champions League is the target for all the teams, they all want to win it. It would be really nice to have the chance to come back here again," he added.
Midfielder Deco has already tasted Champions League glory after helping Porto lift the trophy in 2004, but he admits Chelsea face plenty of competition to take the title this season.
"Teams such as Barcelona, who continue to play at a great level, Real Madrid, who have great players, and Milan, who are recovering, all have a chance of winning the tournament," said Deco, who also admitted he would prefer to avoid his former club Barca or big-spending Madrid in the next round if the two Spanish giants get through.
Looking at his own side, the Portugal international is hoping they can keep up their flying start to the season, adding in Spanish newspaper AS: "We are in a good moment, we are playing good football. We have to maintain it and arrive at the end of the season like this."
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