Conte: Chelsea’s next UCL opponents won’t be happy

Oli Fisher

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes that whoever his side get in the Champions League knockout stages will dread facing them.

The Blues, already through, needed a win to secure top spot, but fell behind to Saul Niguez’s header as Atletico sought the victory they needed to have any chance of progressing.

Chelsea had chances, with Jan Oblak frustrating Alvaro Morata and Andreas Christensen heading wide, before Eden Hazard’s run forced Stefan Savic to turn the ball into his own net.

Substitute Willian might have won it for Chelsea, who instead had to settle for a draw which saw them finish behind Roma on head-to-head records.

“We tried to play our game and win. In the first half we tried to push, we created many chances to score and we conceded a goal from a corner,” Conte told BT Sport.

“When you play this way and create so much you must be satisfied. Our opponent won’t be happy to play against us.

“It was a good game. I think we deserved to win the game when you create so many chances, some important chances.

“We went 1-0 down but we tried to win, we must be pleased as it was a really tough group.

“Atletico in the past played a fantastic Champions League.”