Conte scared of Barca burn-out
Chelsea boss fears schedule will hurt stars
CHELSEA will rekindle their simmering feud with Barcelona after Antonio Conte’s side were handed the most daunting of Champions League ties.
The Premier League champions were paired with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Co in one of the glamour ties of yesterday’s last-16 draw.
While Liverpool will no doubt fancy their chances of progressing against Portuguese giants Porto, Tottenham were handed a tougher assignment in the shape of Juventus.
Despite the prospect of taking on the Italian champions, though, Harry Kane is licking his lips at the prospect of clashing with another of European football’s iconic clubs, after Spurs’ group-stage victory over holders Real Madrid.
‘This is what the Champions League is all about,’ said Kane. ‘To go far, you have to beat the best, which we did in the group. Now it’s the next step.’
But it was Chelsea’s clash with Ernesto Valverde’s side that really caught the imagination.
Speaking after the draw, Conte spoke of his fear that Chelsea will be exhausted by the time they face Barca — a point underlined by the fact star striker Alvaro Morata will miss tonight’s trip to Huddersfield due to fatigue and a back problem.
Nevertheless, the tie will stir memories of classic European battles between the two clubs.
The sides have met five times in the Champions League knockout stage, with Barca advancing in 2000, 2006 and 2009 and Chelsea finishing on top in 2005 and 2012.
But the ties have been littered with controversy. None more so than the infamous 2009 semi-final second leg, when Andres Iniesta’s brilliant injury-time winner sent Barca through on away goals.
If the ending wasn’t dramatic enough, chaos ensued after the final whistle as Chelsea players vented their fury at Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo over his performance.
Chelsea fans would rather recall the most recent meeting. Down to ten men for the majority of the game after John Terry’s red card, the Blues left the Camp Nou with a 2-2 draw to book their place in the 2012 final, where they beat Bayern Munich to lift the trophy.
Yesterday, Conte (right) urged his team to write their own history.
The Chelsea manager’s view certainly applies to Eden Hazard, who can underline his growing status as one of the world’s finest players.
‘Those games are in the past, the present is another story,’ insisted Conte. ‘It is totally different. This type of game is a good chance for every player, not only Messi, to show the right value.’
But Conte could not hide his concerns over potential burn-out as he discussed the tie.
Chelsea face a busy festive period and, with a squad that is already thin, he is concerned his players will run out of steam before they come to face the Catalans.
To add to Conte’s worries, the draw means Chelsea will face the two matches against Barca and games against both Manchester clubs in the space of a month. Similarly, Conte provided no assurances that the club will be looking to strengthen the squad in next month’s transfer window, the Italian insisting the decision rests with the Chelsea hierarchy. ‘It is difficult — to face a game every three days is not simple,’ he said. ‘Especially if your squad is not big. But we have to face this situation. Some players can be tired because some are playing from this summer and our tours in China and Singapore.’ On the chances of January incomings, Conte added: ‘It’s normal, in every team, the coach speaks to his club. But the final decision is always the club’s.’