MX23RW : Wednesday, January 22 15:49:25| >> :60:708:708:
[monks data]
Attendance: 37,741
Chelsea logo
Champions League | Round of 16
Feb 20, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-1

Willian (62')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Messi (75')

Gary Cahill: 'Chelsea will need immense effort'

Cahill: 'Chelsea will need immense effort'
© SilverHub
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill says that his team's effort will need to be "immense" if they are to secure a result from their Champions League first leg with Barcelona.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has said that his team's effort will need to be "immense" if they are to secure a result from their Champions League first leg with Barcelona.

The two sides clash in the last 16 of the competition at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, before the return leg takes place in Spain on March 14.

Cahill, who was a member of the Blues team that defeated Barcelona in 2012, has vowed to use the experience gained six years ago to produce a similar performance this time round.

"To keep Barcelona out, you have to be at your very best," the 32-year-old said. "When we beat them in 2012, the concentration at the back had to be at the absolute maximum. In terms of getting the ball and attacking, it was limited because they had long spells of possession.

"I was exhausted after we won the first game [1-0], mentally and physically. If you switched off for one minute, you knew they would score. Everyone will have to be at that level again, everyone will have to be so switched on.

"One lapse of concentration or focus, Barcelona will make you pay. It is still up to us to play, to create when we do have the ball. The effort it's going to take will be immense. Hopefully, this will be a contest to remember for the right reasons. If you can't get excited about this game, you shouldn't be playing."

Chelsea play Manchester City, Manchester United and Crystal Palace before travelling to Barcelona for the second leg.

ID:319136: cacheID:319136:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2426:
Written by
Jonny Whitfield
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Pedro celebrates scoring the opener during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Watford on October 21, 2017
Read Next:
Pedro: 'Stopping Messi not impossible'
>
Read more about Gary Cahill Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool770021
2Barcelona760118
3Atletico750215
4Atalanta742114
5B. Leverkusen741213
6Arsenal641113
7Inter Milan641113
8Monaco741213
9Brest641113
10Aston Villa741213
11Lille741213
12Bayern640212
13Dortmund740312
14Juventus733112
15AC Milan640212
16PSV732211
17Brugge732211
18Feyenoord631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Benfica731310
21Stuttgart731310
22Real Madrid63039
23Celtic62319
24Man City62228
25Dinamo Zagreb62228
26PSG62137
27Bologna71245
28Shakhtar61144
29Sparta Prague61144
30Sturm Graz71063
31Girona61053
32Red Star71063
33Salzburg61053
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava70070
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!