MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 06:33:29| >> :120:15564:15564:
[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: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

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053

Subscribe to our newsletter


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!