Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DRAW FOR THE LAST 16 PRAY OF HOPE
Conte desperate to draw Besiktas as PSG or Barca could turn his poor season into a real nightmare
ANTONIO CONTE is facing the nightmare prospect of Chelsea’s season going from bad to worse in today’s Champions League draw.
Reigning champs Chelsea are in pot two as they finished runners-up in their group and can get only PSG, Barcelona or Besiktas in the last 16.
That leaves Chelsea praying for the Turkish club, otherwise they will face one of the two favourites to win the trophy.
Chelsea manager Conte is already under pressure having counted his team out of the Premier League title race just seven months after being crowned champions. And the Italian knows that finishing second in their group could cost them dear if they get the draw nobody wants.
The list of possible last-16 opponents is limited because at this stage of the competition Chelsea cannot be drawn against another English club or a team they have already played, which rules out Roma.
Conte said: “We have three possibilities – PSG, Barcelona or Besiktas – and we have to wait and see what happens.”
Incredibly, Chelsea are one of only six teams to have reached the knock-out stage after winning their domestic title. The Premier League has an unprecedented five teams through to the last 16, and the other four clubs – Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham – all won their groups.
That could give them a favourable draw, but Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern Munich are also lurking in pot two and could give one of them a major scare.
Tottenham finished above Real Madrid in their group – meaning they cannot draw the holders – and that has left their in-form striker Harry Kane convinced they have nothing to be afraid of.
Kane said: “We were in the same group as Real Madrid and Dortmund and we have done really well. To go far in the Champions League you are going to have to play the best teams in Europe so we will see who we get.
“People say this kind of thing a lot, but I see nothing to be afraid of.”
Tottenham have reserved their best form for the Champions League and manager Mauricio Pochettino said he would prefer to be drawn against a major side.
“I like to play against the big teams. I love to play against Real Madrid and big teams like that,” he said
“I love to challenge the best. It’s a big test for us to play against big teams.
“Motivation is massive. I prefer to play against a team that will motivate everyone. If you face a team everybody expects you to beat, it becomes complicated.
“We love to play against a big team and we always give that little bit extra.
“When you play teams you are expected to beat, fans don’t have the same patience.
“We may keep possession and maybe they aren’t comfortable.
“But when you play a big team, the fans are a little on edge and the support they give provides the players with added energy.”
No English team has reached the Champions League final since Chelsea back in 2012.
In the five years from 2005 to 2009, the Premier League had at least one team in the final every season.