Chelsea FC’s Champions League rivals fearing the worst after convincing win over Atletico

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AFP via Getty Images

Chelsea issued a Champions League statement that will have Europe's giants fearing tomorrow's quarter-final draw.

The 2-0 win against La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid confirmed that Thomas Tuchel's side are a force to be reckoned with — and, in the

German's own words, a team no one will want to play.

So, while the injured Thiago Silva and suspended Mason Mount and Jorginho danced in the empty stands at Stamford Bridge last night, their potential last-eight opponents may have felt a sense of dread.

That is because they saw a Chelsea team that handled everything Atletico threw at them, silenced Luis Suarez and Joao Felix and recorded an 11th clean sheet in 13 games.

Teams that do not concede goals tend to go far in knockout football. Add to that the maturity and big-game management they demonstrated over two games against Diego Simeone's side and they have many of the qualities associated with Champions League winners.

"I'm sure no one will want to play against us and there's no need for us to be afraid," said Tuchel. "The most important thing is we feel we deserve this.

"It was a very good performance, an unbelievable team effort — from the guys on the pitch, the bench and in the stands. You could really feel we wanted it. We go through deserved [winners]."

Nights like this do not tend to happen to Atletico or Simeone, but the Argentine could only hold his hands up after goals from Hakim Ziyech and Emerson emphasised Chelsea's superiority.

"We have to congratulate the opponent when they are the better team," he said. "When we play a better team, it means we have to improve and then we will go again. That is how it has got to be."

BT Sport

This was the standout performance of Tuchel's reign so far, and the German's transformation of the squad he inherited from Frank Lampard cannot be overstated.

From five defeats in nine to 13 unbeaten, Tuchel has breathed life into Chelsea's campaign and established them as genuine contenders for the biggest prize in club football.

He took Paris Saint-Germain to within 90 minutes of the trophy last season, and how fitting it would be if he could come back to haunt his former club following his sacking over Christmas. Even Neymar and Kylian Mbappe might struggle to find a way through the blue wall he has erected at Chelsea.

What of the potential domestic opponents?

Tuchel has already masterminded victory over Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in recent weeks, while Manchester City's tendency to self-destruct in Europe could play right into his hands.

Would Pep Guardiola's quadruple-chasing side have made such light work of Atletico?

Then there are reigning champions, Bayern Munich, and the all-time kings of Europe, Real Madrid, in a daunting-looking last eight.

Another of Tuchel's former clubs, Borussia Dortmund, and Porto complete the quarter-finalists and represent the most appealing draws on paper. But the Chelsea manager is justified in asserting his side have no one to fear after reaching this stage of the competition for the first time since 2014.

Rather, they have established themselves as "ones to avoid".

Tuchel added: "We know if we cannot find solutions with offensive play we can rely on our physical game. We were absolutely not afraid to put it on a physical level if we don't get offensive solutions. We enjoyed the battle. We were super hungry to go through.

"Quarter-final means there's only four games — it's a big step and feels excellent."

Their potential opponents are unlikely to agree.

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