It will be shortly before lunchtime on Friday that Graham Potter and his Chelsea players discover who they will face in the Champions League quarter-finals. There will be no easy opponent, no soft touch. Yet that doesn't mean there isn't a more favourable draw.
Chelsea secured their place in the last eight by overcoming Borussia Dortmund. It was not an easy tie. The Blues were beaten 1-0 out in Germany but produced the standout performance of the Potter era back at Stamford Bridge to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory and advance.
They will be joined in the quarter-finals by many of the great and good of European football. Real Madrid are a potential opponent. Bayern Munich too. A familiar foe would be Manchester City. While no club will be keen on taking on Serie A leaders Napoli given their impressive performances this term.
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Potter will not let on his true feelings about the draw when he speaks to the press on Friday afternoon; he will stay professional and respectful to whichever opponent the Blues will take on in the last eight. Chelsea supporters do not have to be quite as tactful – they can very much give their honest opinion.
And in this piece, we have carefully selected the draw we believe gives Chelsea the best chance to secure their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. But we have also chosen the club to avoid – and we are pretty sure there isn't a Blues fan who would disagree with our selection.
Best case
Milan
The Italian giants are European football royalty: Milan have won the European Cup/Champions League on seven occasions, a total only Real Madrid can better. Yet despite winning Serie A last term in impressive style, Stefano Pioli's side have been inconsistent this season.
It's why Milan currently sit fourth in Serie A and a whopping 20 points behind runaway leaders Napoli. The Rossoneri also finished as runners-up in the group stage of the Champions League. The team that pipped them to top spot? Chelsea.
Potter's side recorded an impressive 3-0 victory over Milan at Stamford Bridge back in October and followed that up with a 2-0 triumph at San Siro, although that match was hugely influenced by the first-half red card shown to former Chelsea centre-back Fikayo Tomori.
Milan did dispatch English opposition in the Round of 16 – a hugely underwhelming Tottenham were overcome 1-0 over two legs – but Chelsea would be confident of avoiding a repeat scoreline given their dominance in the group stage and Milan's patchy results since the turn of the year.
Worst case
Manchester City
It was at the Etihad Stadium in November that Chelsea's Carabao Cup campaign was brought to an abrupt end. Manchester City's home was also the setting for the Blues' early exit from the FA Cup in January. It certainly would be nice to avoid Pep Guardiola's side in at least one cup competition this season.
City fired a warning shot to the rest of Europe on Tuesday night as they thumped Bundesliga side RB Leipzig 7-0 in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie. Erling Haaland ended the evening with five goals, matching the record for most goals scored in a Champions League game in the process.
Guardiola also has a strong record against Potter, although few will be surprised by that fact given the English coach was often trying to overcome City with Brighton. In the ten meetings between the pair, Potter has claimed just one victory and been beaten on nine occasions, the previous three of which have come as Chelsea head coach.
Throw in the Blues' regular and frustrating humblings at the Etihad Stadium and there will be understandable trepidation if they are drawn against their Premier League rivals on Friday. City are undoubtedly the team to avoid.
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