“We are talking about a player who scores 60 goals every season”.
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We showed until the last minute that we can play against any team and now we have eight finals and we have to make sure we play Champions League next year.
Typically, Conte would have looked at the FA Cup as an opportunity to rest key players Alonso, Kante and Willian, but with a two-week worldwide break following Leicester he may well decide to retain their services.
“Last season we were very good to reach the final at Wembley”.
“We are still a young team with a long way to go and we need to gain experience to be competitive all the way in the Champions League”. This must be our target. “It won’t be easy”.
Many claimed the difference between the sides was the pressnce of Messi, who was showered with acclaim from the likes of Antonio Conte, among many others, after full-time at the Nou Camp for his virtuoso display.
“All the players are ready with desire and without pressure because Chelsea are the favourites”.
‘Special plans? Our special plan is to try to defend well. They are now four points behind Liverpool with little room for error. I will work hard again to make big saves in the next game I play – that’s my attitude.
They had no chance, in all honesty.
“It is a decisive game”. However, their final ball was lacking, as they regularly wasted good opportunities to score.
Chelsea were level at 1-1 going into the match at the Camp Nou but after two minutes and eight seconds, a mistake from Courtois saw Lionel Messi score from a tight angle through the legs of the Belgium worldwide.
Defender David Luiz (ankle) and midfielder Ross Barkley (hamstring) are out. We have to move on, work hard and continue’.
Continuing that theme, goalkeepers from Leverkusen and Milan – Bernd Leno and Christian Abbiati – have proved Messi’s favourite men to beat between the sticks, with seven scored against both, while former Arsenal stopper Manuel Almunia let in six.
Conte will be taking no risks with his team selection as Chelsea aim to reach the final for the second year in a row, having lost to London rivals Arsenal last season.
Goals from Thiago Alcántara, Timo Werner and an own goal from Gökhan Gönül completed the rout while Vágner Love scored Besiktas’ consolation goal.
Mourinho’s United, still reeling from a meek Champions League exit against Sevilla on Tuesday, host Brighton and Hove Albion, Conte’s Chelsea travel to Leicester City and Pochettino takes his Tottenham side to Swansea City.
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This is a hard game to call but I fancy Chelsea, despite Leicester’s heavy win at struggling West Brom. Luckily he is well aware of people who find pleasure in kicking people who are down and most importantly: he will not pay any mind to them.
