Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte will consult his players for strategies ahead of their Barcelona fixture, according to reports. The Blues played out a 1-1 draw against their perennial rivals in the competition last week. Lionel Messi, who had never scored against Chelsea, broke that jinx due to a defensive slip that the Spanish side capitalized on after an earlier Willian opener.
Conte will likely change his idea of a ‘false 9’ with the players and pundits have criticized as it was not working. The Italian manager played Eden Hazard as the false 9, flanked by Willian and Pedro as Alvaro Morata was struggling with fitness and Conte wanted Olivier Giroud to settle in.
The crucial fixture at the Camp Nou will see a striker play while Willian and Hazard will play on the wings. Chelsea will expect to be outplayed in terms of possession so the middle will be tight. Giroud is expected to start the game with Morata still struggling with form and confidence. The France international started the weekend clash with Crystal Palace while Morata came off the bench and cut a low figure in the 18 minutes he played except for his yellow card for assent, as usual.
Judging by Conte’s comment after his former club Juventus knocked out Spurs in the Champions League, the coach will take a defensive approach, hoping to counter their opponents. He spoke about his players with limited experience in the Champions League so the team will have to get their strategy right. If things go according to plan, Chelsea would ease the pressure on them if they make it to the last eight.
Hazard would need to be at his playmaking best; Cesc Fabregas will have to show his usual creativity; Willian will need to continue with his fine form of late and the whole defence will need to be coordinated against a brilliant attacking side. Luis Suarez might miss the game as well as Andres Iniesta. Philippe Coutinho is cup-tied but Barcelona still have enough in their arsenal to bury Chelsea at the Camp Nou.