Heaton on way back

Conte: Are you joking? Messi is still the best

TIM FLOWERS has warned his old club Leicester City it would be a blunder to dismiss Chelsea as a ‘busted flush’.

The former Foxes keeper says it would be ‘a big mistake’ if Claude Puel and his squad thought a heavy defeat in Barcelona would have a devastating effect on the Chelsea mindset.

Even though problems appear to be stacking up for boss Antonio Conte – Chelsea now face a tough battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League – Flowers (right) says that anyone trotting out the ‘good time to play them’ card would be wrong.

Flowers said: “I don’t think it’s a good time to play this Chelsea side – not at all.

“It would be a huge mistake if Leicester fell into that trap. Chelsea caused Barcelona problems on Wednesday and they drew the first leg against them. Antonio Conte has quality players at his disposal.

“I saw them play Manchester United at Old Trafford. They were a different class. They had a game plan to pick them off on the counter and they did it well, particularly in the opening half.

“I’m sure Leicester will want to get in their faces. But it would be wrong to think that just because Chelsea had a bad experience in Spain that all of a sudden they can’t play, or that they are there for the taking. “This is the last-eight of the FA Cup – a competition they reached the final in last season.”

Leicester have spent the week in Spain – training at a warm-weather camp near Marbella. And Flowers said that freshness could count.

He added: “I expect Leicester to make it hot and heavy for them. They are not going to let the Eden Hazards of this world simply pick them off. It won’t happen. There is enough experience in that Leicester dressing room.

“They will recognise what’s in front of them. They will come into it with their eyes wide open. Modern analysis means there aren’t many secrets any more.

“Let’s not forget, Leicester are at home. And they have still got in the side a heavy presence from the one that won the Premier League title.

“There is no doubt that in the FA Cup some clubs put out their squad players.

“But the nearer you get to the final, the attitude starts to shift slightly, and it becomes more of a priority.

“And players, once they have had a taste of success, definitely want some more.

“It should be a cracking tie – and I wouldn’t write off Leicester either.”