Antonio Conte insists Chelsea’s tie with Barcelona ‘is still open’ and has called on his players ‘to do something incredible at the Camp Nou’.
The English champions took a deserved lead at home to the Blaugrana at Stamford Bridge through Willian before a defensive error allowed Lionel Messi to grab an away goal.
“We were very close to playing a perfect game and I think we paid dearly for one mistake,” Conte told reporters after the match.
“Against this opponent and type of player, like a Lionel Messi, an Andres Iniesta or a Luis Suarez, if you make a mistake then you pay.
“It's a pity because I think at the end of the game we are disappointed with the final result but, at the same time, this game must give us a lot of confidence to trust that in the second leg qualification is open.
“It won't be easy, we must be realistic because we are talking about Barcelona, who showed they are a fantastic, strong team.
“But we showed that if we are ready to work very hard together defensively, but at the same time continue to have the right feeling when we win the ball and are with the ball to create the chances to score, then we can try to do something incredible at the Camp Nou.”
