The last time Chelsea ventured to the Nou Camp with an Italian in charge, Roberto Di Matteo, it ended in glory with Chelsea beating Barcelona, on aggregate, to reach the Champions league Final, a game they were ultimately to win.
Tonight, Antonio Conte leads his side into the arena knowing that his side face a tough task to get past the Spanish side and reach the last-eight of the competition.
At his press conference, Conte spoke about the excitement of the game keeping him awake at night, remarking,
‘For the manager, for every coach, it is not simple to sleep a lot, especially before these types of games.
‘I hope my players also have the same excitement’.
Is it excitement or an element of anxiety, knowing a defeat would leave Chelsea just the FA Cup to chase and enhance the prospects of a new man being at the helm next season.
Continuing, Conte went on to describe the kind of game he expects his side to experience, with the boss further adding,
‘You must be excited to play this kind of game at the Nou Camp. A lot of my players have never played in this stadium and we want to try to do our best.
‘In the first leg, we played a really good game and it was almost perfect. That was against a team that I consider one of the best in the world.
‘But when we made a mistake, we paid for it. The final result of that games gives a great advantage to Barcelona.
‘We know very well the philosophy of Barcelona. For sure they want to dominate and play their football, to score and to win the game, and we have to try to do our best.
‘We have to concentrate, to stay with your head on the pitch in every moment and to know that there are moments we have to suffer. Not only Chelsea, but every team who plays Barcelona has to suffer.
‘They have to be compact and when you have the ball you have to have the feeling in your heart to create the chance to score.’
Or in simple terms, Chelsea will be put under immense pressure, concentration will be important, mistakes cannot be made and Chelsea must be prepared to take any of the few chances that may fall their way, otherwise the Champions league dream will die on Catalan soil.
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