Fabregas wants Chelsea to attack at Camp Nou

Terrassa (Barcelona), February 23: Chelsea need to score against Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League tie if they are to have any chance of progressing to the quarterfinals.

After a defensive performance at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, a former Barcelona player, clearly hopes Antonio Conte will apply more attacking tactics in Catalonia.

"Ninety minutes of defending (away at Barcelona) is a suicide mission," the midfielder told reporters.

"To spend 90 minutes there defending can be a long 90 minutes, an eternity.

"You've to go there to attack and we've to feel we can hurt them," the Spaniard pointed out.

Asked for his thoughts on the 1-1 draw, Fabregas said it hurt because he thought Chelsea deserved to win.

"It's such a shame, as I really thought we were good," he said.

"We had a gameplan and did really well.

"We go home sad because a fantastic performance is not a fantastic result."

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta, though, warns that it will be a difficult encounter.

"At home the match will be different," he said on TV3 after the draw, in which he assisted Lionel Messi's goal.

"With our fans and our stadium, it'll be a different game.

"We'll approach the areas with more advantages.

"It'll be difficult game because they'll give their all, like we will.

"Chelsea are one of the best teams in Europa and in the Champions League anything can cost you a lot."

Discussing the first leg as a whole, Iniesta explained that it was a typical tough away Champions League trip.

"It was a very intense Champions League match.

"We knew it would be difficult.

"We had a lot of the ball, but it wasn't easy to forge clear chances up top because they had a lot of bodies back there.

"We scored a goal, which was very important."

The second leg will be played at Camp Nou on March 14.

(The author is a freelancer based in Barcelona)