Nou’s the time
> Blues capable of the ‘incredible’ to spring Barca surprise, says Conte <
“I think it was a great performance, an incredible performance,” added Conte.
“We’re talking about a player he’s only 21. It’s great that he can play this game with this maturity. I am very happy. For me he was one of the best players tonight.”
Barcelona enjoyed nearly 70% of the possession, but lacked the penetration to open up Chelsea’s well-organised defence.
“At times it seemed like a handball match, because they sat back and waited,” said Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
“It is difficult when they have eight players behind the ball.”
However, Conte defended his tactics, saying it would be “crazy” to approach facing Barcelona any other way.
“When you play against Barcelona you know very well that if you want to face them boxto-box then you are crazy and you go to lose the game, not 1-0, (but) 4, 5, 6-0,” said Conte.
“You must play with intelligence, especially if you know that (Barca) level is up on us. You must play an intelligent game, we are not stupid.”
Chelsea’s former Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas, though, stressed the importance of going to Catalonia in three weeks’ time with attacking intent rather than just trying to keep Barcelona at bay for as long as possible.
“We have to go there to attack and score because 90 minutes defending at the Nou Camp is an eternity,” said Fabregas, who played for Barca between 2011 and 2014. “It is a suicide mission.”
Messi’s goal was the first a Barcelona player has scored in an away Champions League match for six games.
And whilst Barca boss Ernesto Valverde welcomed the slight advantage gained from a substandard performance, he warned Chelsea possess the threat on the counter-attack to still land a knockout blow.
“It is very important to have scored here and logically both teams will respect their own style in the second leg. They have the attacking resources to cause us problems.
“It is important to have the advantage, but it is far from decided.” – AFP