Chelsea ready for Napoli test

Chelsea club secretary David Barnard admits the Blues face a ‘very difficult’ Champions League last-16 tie against Napoli.

But he was hopeful that Andre Villas-Boas’ previous experience facing the Italian club could be used to their advantage.

Having worked under Jose Mourinho at Inter, the Chelsea manager will be aware of the threats posed by the Serie A side in a tie that will be a ‘new experience’ for most of the club’s players.

“I think at this stage we can come up with the clichés about it being difficult, and it will indeed be difficult,” Barnard told Sky Sports.

“We’ve already seen Napoli in the same group as Manchester City and they are unfortunately not with us, so obviously that has some bearing on the quality of Napoli.”

“I’m sure Andre will see it as a tough draw. We all know that Andre has had experience in Italy with Inter Milan, so he will know the ins and outs of Napoli I’m sure.”

“It will be an occasion, and it will be a lot warmer than if we’d drawn a Russian team. It’s a new experience for us with this particular club.”

The Champions League has eluded Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich since he took over the London club in 2003 and Barnard was keen to emphasise the importance of the trophy to players and staff alike, particularly after their dramatic defeat in the 2008 final against Manchester United.

“I don’t think it’s just the owner, I think it applies to everyone associated with Chelsea Football Club,” he said.

“We got there in Moscow, we were so near and yet so far, and we want to go back and we want to win it. It’s not just Roman, it’s the players and the staff as well.”

Barnard also insisted that hopes at Stamford Bridge remained high and that that had been the case even during a tricky spell earlier in the season that saw Villas-Boas fall under the microscope.

“I think the feeling at the club is upbeat,” he said. “It’s always been there, but because some of the results haven’t gone our way people have assumed that people are not together.”

“But it’s always been there and it’s a lot better than it was.”

Strengthening the side ahead of the meeting with Napoli during the January transfer window was a possibility, Barnard added.

“You can always speculate, you can never say never in football,” he said.

“I’m sure that if players become available that Andre’s interested in, then it’s something we will look at.”

Barnard confirmed that Chelsea will liaise with Manchester City regarding arrangements for the first leg, which is away from home in Naples.

“I’m sure there will be a large security operation for Chelsea,” he said.

“We will speak with Manchester City and go on their experience of what has happened and how they went about it, and whether we can improve that.”

“But we will be speaking with Manchester City on those particular issues.”