Chelsea boss Antonio Conte doesn't fancy English clubs' Champions League chances despite providing 5 of the last 16
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Antonio Conte has warned English teams will struggle to win the Champions League — because they are left knackered by the Premier League.
Conte's Chelsea face the toughest draw in the last-16 after being paired with Barcelona, renewing a long-running rivalry with the Spanish giants.
Although the Blues' boss believes the Premier League are now a force to be reckoned with again — especially with all five teams advancing into the knockout phase — but doubts whether any of them can go all the way and lift the trophy on May 26.
(Image: Getty)
Boss Conte, whose side face a nightmare fixture pile-up with away games at Barcelona and BOTH Manchester clubs in the space of a month from late February, said: “I think this first round shows a great power for the English teams.
“This is the reality, because I think English teams dominated their groups. Four teams arrived at the top of the group. It means they are really strong.
“It’ll be difficult to face English teams, especially in February. But then in March, April, I don’t know, because when you accumulate many games in the legs of the players it will be more difficult for English teams to reach something important.
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“But at the same time this season could be the right season for an English team to win the Champions League.
“It’s a draw, and our reaction must be positive.
“As I know very well, you must be ready to face everything and in this case you must ready to face Barcelona.”
(Image: Getty)
They have been involved in some memorable battles as they have already met in the knock-out stages 12 times and Chelsea beat them in the semi-finals on the way to winning the trophy in 2012.
Barcelona won a controversial semi three years earlier, when Chelsea were denied FOUR penalty appeals and Didier Drogba got a Euro ban after a bust-up after the final whistle.
Jose Mourinho was also labelled an “enemy of football” after a bitter showdown in the Non Camp in 2005.
They have a lot of history but, incredibly, Lionel Messi has never scored against Chelsea and now Eden Hazard will be desperate to try to take centre stage.
Conte added: “The past is the past. Now is the present and it is another story. It is totally different.
“This type of game is a good chance for every player to show the right value, not only for Hazard but for sure every player has to play in the right way.”