IT’S GOING TO GET MEZZZZZI
Conte: Worrying about Barca has kept me awake at night
ANTONIO CONTE admits the prospect of facing Barcelona has given him sleepless nights.
The Chelsea boss also warned his players they must be ready
LIONEL MESSI is the best player in the world – except when he plays against Chelsea.
The Barcelona superstar has made a career of destroying opponents but has not been able to score in eight games against Chelsea. The Argentinian went closest when he hit the bar from the penalty spot in their semi-final at the Nou Camp when Chelsea knocked out
Barcelona on the way to winning the Champions League in 2012.
And Chelsea’s Spanish winger Pedro – who was playing for Barcelona that night – insists that Messi and his former team-mates are still haunted by that unforgettable encounter and that Chelsea’s Messi curse might just prove the most decisive factor as the clubs go head to head for the 16th time.
Pedro said: “Messi is the best player in the world but he’s not invincible. It’s very difficult to stop the guy because he’s very quick, very clever. But it’s not impossible.
“He’s on another level. No-one can do what he does so to have played with him is special. It’s something to tell my sons (Bryan and Kyle) in the future because he’ll probably be considered the best in history.
“I remember the games in 2012 so well. Chelsea were always horrible opponents. They were compact, strong in defence, and pressed very well. We always found it difficult against them.
“Barcelona will be thinking this tie is going to be very tough because Chelsea are strong. It’s never easy to play against us.
“The memory of 2012 stays with me even now. Leo missed a penalty and then Fernando scored with the last touch to finish the tie... I remember it all because it was such a sad day for Barcelona.
“We can definitely take it as inspiration. The reality is it’s not impossible for us: it’s possible for us to beat Barcelona and go through to the next round.
“It’s difficult because they’re a great team, but it’s not impossible.”
Barcelona are favourites to progress, just as they were in 2012, but the history between these two clubs – from Jose Mourinho losing the plot at the Nou Camp to Didier Drogba’s infamous meltdown at Stamford Bridge in 2009 – suggests we should expect the unexpected. Both sides have five wins from 15 meetings and perhaps the most unlikely Chelsea success came at the Nou Camp in April 2012 when, after John Terry was sent off, the 10 men somehow went through.
Pedro, 30, had seven years at Barcelona, winning 20 trophies, before joining Chelsea in 2015.
While he puts his old club above virtually every other team in Europe, he still believes Barcelona, despite the magic of Messi, can be beaten.
Pedro added: “It’s a special game for me. I played for so many years in this team. I have so many friends there and I have so many memories.
“It was an incredible time with a special team. It’s easier to win titles there than over here because they have players like Messi, the best players in the world. “Some players may have moved on but now they have players like Suarez, who is scoring more goals. It’s very difficult to stop them.
“But things are different in the Champions League. It’s a different type of competition. It’s for good teams and good players and you have a different mentality when you fight with another top team.
“I’m very happy to have played my part and to have won those titles with Barca. But now I am at Chelsea and I defend the badge on this shirt, the Chelsea shirt, with great pride.”