Chelsea must play 'perfect game' to win Champions League first leg against Barcelona, says Antonio Conte

The Italian admitted that he struggled to sleep in the buildup to Tuesday’s first leg at Stamford Bridge because he was so excited about the challenge

Antonio during Chelsea training at Cobham yesterday (Chelsea FC via Getty)

Antonio Conte said his Chelsea team will have to play a “perfect game” to beat Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 first leg, and that his players should be “prepared to suffer”.

The Italian admitted that he struggled to sleep in the buildup to Tuesday’s first leg at Stamford Bridge because he was so excited about the challenge of facing such a side. While Chelsea have endured a more inconsistent season defending their Premier League title, Barcelona are seven points clear at the top of the Spanish league and unbeaten in that competition and the Champions League, having also reached the final of the Copa Del Rey. Conte said his side should be excited about that, though, as it also a chance to show their level and “ambition”.

“I think that, for sure, we have to play a perfect game against Barcelona tomorrow if we want to win,” Conte said. “I repeat, on paper, you start these two games with one favourite and this is Barcelona. I think that they earned the right to be the favourites this season for what they have been doing for many years in football in the world.

“For sure, we are talking about a massive game. A big challenge for us. We have to play against a fantastic team, one of the best in the world. But this type of game we must be excited. Excited to play this type of game against Barcelona. For sure, it won’t be easy. We are talking about a fantastic team with fantastic players. We are talking about [Lionel] Messi, [Luis] Suarez and [Andres] Iniesta… about the whole team.

“We must pay great attention but, at the same time, we must have ambition. We must have ambition to try and play our football. We know the characteristics Barcelona have: they like to have possession; they like to control the game. In every game they are able to create many chances to score, so we must be ready to suffer without the ball, to be compact, not to lose our heads during the game, and then to try with the ball to do what we know. What we try and do during training.

“Yes, I think we start this game as underdogs, for sure, because Barcelona – on paper – are favourites to go into the next round. But, for this reason, I think we must be excited to play this challenge. These two games will be very important to understand which is our level in this competition. I think it’s a work for us, and we’ve worked and prepared well. It won’t be easy. We are playing against Barcelona. They are having a fantastic season, top of the league and final in the Copa del Rey, and they have the potential to win this cup. But, at the same time, we must be excited to face this type of game. To understand which is our level in the present, and what we have to do to improve in the future.”

Conte admitted that preparing for the match had caused a few sleepless nights, as he weighed up every tactical option.


 Chelsea players in training before playing Barcelona 
 (Getty Images)

“I think that, these days after the game in the FA Cup, I must be honest... it was a bit difficult to sleep, to sleep well. But not a lot. When you have to play this type of game, you have to prepare. You have to prepare everything. You have to prepare big things, but the smaller details too. They can move a result a lot of the time. We have an idea. We have a plan in our heads. I think that, in this specific moment, it’s very important to pick the players who are at the top of their form and then try and do our best to win the game.”

To do so, they will have to subdue Messi. Conte smiled when asked exactly how this was possible.

“This is a good question. We are talking about the best player in the world. Messi has the capacity to solve the situation and create a chance when you are not seeing the chance to score. This means that this player, we are talking about a fantastic player. We have to pay great attention, but not only to Messi. Suarez is a fantastic striker. The other team are very dangerous, so we have to work as a team to try and stop Barcelona: Messi, Suarez, Iniesta... the whole team of Barcelona. We have to work very hard. We have to know that, during the game, we must be prepared to suffer. But, at the same time, we must have the idea to go and score at any moment.”