Chelsea face a massive six-week period starting with Barcelona in the Champions League.

Antonio Conte and his Chelsea players face a massive six-week period that will make or break our season starting with Barcelona at home in the Champions League on February 20th. 

Knocked-out of the Carabao Cup this week and with Newcastle at home in the FA Cup on Sunday, you could argue that both were not the priority of the club at the beginning of the season.

The fact that we find ourselves fifteen points behind Manchester City in the title race, it’s clear that we must now finish second to ensure direct qualification into the group stages of the Champions League next season.

Sandwiched in-between the home and away legs against Barcelona, Chelsea must travel to Manchester to take on Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United five days after our first leg against Barcelona and then again to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City a week later and it could have an influential effect on where we finish the season in the Premier League.

Chelsea can go to both clubs and beat them, we have the quality to go there and do that but as we have seen many, many times this year, we cannot afford to deliver a mediocre performance playing well within ourselves as we have done numerous times in the big games.

It’s going to a crucial time in our season with Tottenham due to come to Stamford Bridge on the 1st April, so we need to ensure we get the right results, play well and then deliver another performance/three points against Tottenham to really kick on.

The games against Barcelona for several reasons will be the most important now that Chelsea are back in the Champions League having not qualified for the competition last season. Barcelona and Chelsea have a recent history in the competition with our trip to Camp Nou in the semi-final second leg on our way to winning the final in Munich being fresh in our memories.

Is this Chelsea team good enough to challenge Barcelona and Lionel Messi over two legs? Check out the latest Champions League odds with Williamhill

There are many of the opinion that Chelsea were the side that Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team mates did not like to play against. That was back in the days of Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba but as we know Chelsea are a very different proposition now.

In Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata we have the basis of a new spine that could emulate the achievements of passed Chelsea teams that have caused them problems but to do that we must turn up.

Chelsea have more than a chance in my opinion because let’s be honest, Barcelona are not the same side they used to be. Their defence is still suspect when put under pressure throughout ninety minutes – which they never have to face for 95% of their games in La Liga. It’s whether Antonio Conte can come up with a tactical plan to stop them to give Eden Hazard licence to attack that will be key to outcome of the tie.

Whatever happens, With Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United coming up within a six-week period, it will be make or break for our season and possibly for Antonio Conte.

Let’s hope we can deliver the right performances and results that will encourage him to stay beyond this season.