Chelsea need not worry who they face in last 16 – they can beat any side.
The Blues are in the hat for the last sixteen of the Champions League and the all important draw takes place this coming Monday.
Chelsea finished top of Group E with 14 pointsCredit: EPA
Frank Lampard’s side won their group having not lost a single match, one of only three sides to do that this year.
Winning the group puts them as a higher seed for the next round draw, meaning they will avoid clubs such as Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Chelsea can face any of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Porto, Lazio, RB Leipzig, or Borussia Monchengladbach.
There is never an easy game in the Champions League, but Chelsea fans are hoping to be drawn against Atalanta, Porto, or Lazio over Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, obviously.
But the truth is, Chelsea need not worry who they are drawn against, because this season they are capable of beating any team in the world.
It has been a while since I have felt the genuine confidence to be able to state that.
I would not worry if we were drawn against Barcelona on Monday – I believe we can beat them.
This is not me looking through blue tinted glasses, this is a genuine belief that Chelsea can beat anyone based on form and morale.
Frank Lampard’s men are third in the Premier League table Credit: Getty Images – Getty
We are on a great run right now and the momentum is building.
Chelsea have not lost [within 90 minutes] in their last 17 matches, and 7 of those winning games have been thrashings.
Lampard has tightened up the defence, and turned them into a very dangerous attacking unit as well.
The new signings that have come in this summer have clicked already and are really making differences all over the pitch and Lampard has his team setup in the style of play and formation that he has been building since the start of last season.
They are playing with a new-found confidence that will put fear into teams across the world, and fans and pundits alike are taking notice.
Chelsea were written off as Premier League and Champions League challengers at the start of the season.
But now pretty much every pundit around is admitting that at the very least, Chelsea must be considered as contenders for both now, and they genuinely are.
I’m not meaning to get carried away and I will stay grounded, the season is long and we can expect many more bumps along the way.
Chelsea could come up against BarcelonaCredit: AFP or licensors
But there is a different feel within the Chelsea camp this season, good morale is seeping through the players and the staff.
And they have a real strength in-depth – probably the best in world football when you consider the likes of Jorginho and Antonio Rudiger are currently considered backup players.
This is what can give them the edge over their opponents in the Champions League as further fatigue and fixture congestion kicks in; Chelsea can use their strength in-depth to see them through.
We are far from invincible, but it is CHELSEA who clubs will be looking to avoid in the draw on Monday, let’s put it that way.
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Champions League last-16 draw simulated with Chelsea landing nightmare clash against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
