Sunday, February 25
 

Premier League

Gary Cahill: 'Chelsea will need immense effort'

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.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City27233179205972
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd28185553203359
3Liverpool28169365323357
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs28167553242955
5Chelsea28165750252553
6Arsenal27136851361545
7Burnley2891092225-337
8Leicester CityLeicester2899104041-136
9Everton2897123247-1534
10Watford2896133847-933
11Bournemouth2888123343-1032
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28710112637-1131
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham2879123550-1530
14Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2886142548-2330
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2878132738-1129
16Southampton28512112941-1227
17Crystal Palace2869132543-1827
18Swansea CitySwansea2876152141-2027
19Stoke CityStoke2868142854-2626
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom28311142242-2020
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Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City27233179205972
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd28185553203359
3Liverpool28169365323357
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs28167553242955
5Chelsea28165750252553
6Arsenal27136851361545
7Burnley2891092225-337
8Leicester CityLeicester2899104041-136
9Everton2897123247-1534
10Watford2896133847-933
11Bournemouth2888123343-1032
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28710112637-1131
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham2879123550-1530
14Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2886142548-2330
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2878132738-1129
16Southampton28512112941-1227
17Crystal Palace2869132543-1827
18Swansea CitySwansea2876152141-2027
19Stoke CityStoke2868142854-2626
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom28311142242-2020
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