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Football London
Football London
Sport
Lee Wilmot & Adam Newson

Thomas Tuchel issues verdict on Champions League draw and names 2 teams he did not want to face

It is a busy day at Chelsea.

Just hours after finding out who they will face in the Champions League quarter-finals and then semi-finals if they get there, head coach Thomas Tuchel has been facing the media for his pre-mnatch press conference ahead of the FA Cup clash with Sheffield United.

The Blues take on the rock bottom Blades at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, knowing a place n the semi-finals of the competition is up for grabs.

Meanwhile, in the Champions League, the Blues' reward for beating Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 is a last eight date with tournament outsiders Porto.

It looks, on paper, to be the most favourable draw for Tuchel and his Chelsea team, but it is not one he or his players are likely to take lightly.

And, during his press conference, he was asked for his immediate verdict on the draw.

In so doing, he named two teams he did not want to face when the balls were drawn out.

He said: "First of all I am happy we play an international game and not against an English team, the Champions League is about that.

"We have the second leg at home which feels good because we maybe have a slight advantage to finish at home.

"Clearly, many people will now make us favourites against Porto but that will not help us. You can ask in Turin if that helps you.

"We are self-confident and that is strongly connected with our performances. So we are confident that we will face a strong opponent and face them with respect, but we are in the quarter-final and are focused on winning that."

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