Graham Potter has given his reaction to Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final draw, with the west Londoners set to face Real Madrid.
Chelsea have been given a tough challenge against the reigning European champions, who eliminated the Blues at the same stage of last season’s competition.
Chelsea, however, have a strong record against Real Madrid and have lost just one of their seven meetings with Los Blancos, with Potter admitting his feeling is one of ‘excitement’ as his side prepare to face the Spanish giants.
“I said we would try and win the Champions League! That is the same for the other seven clubs. You can always lose in the quarter-final as that is the nature of the Champions League.
“We will focus on Real Madrid when we get there, but at the moment it is Everton,” Potter said at his pre-match press conference.
“The feeling is excitement, but I would rather speak on Everton as that is the game tomorrow and the other stuff is a long way away.”
Chelsea will come up against former manager Carlo Ancelotti in the tie, with the Italian having led Real Madrid to a record-extending 14th European Cup last season. That win saw Ancelotti become the first coach to win the Champions League on four occasions, having lifted two titles with AC Milan and two at the Bernabeu.
Potter was full of praise for the 63-year-old and said he has huge respect for Ancelotti’s achievements in the game.
“I do not know him personally, but I have faced him when he was at Everton. I know he is a gentleman. It goes without saying, the amount of respect I have for him and what he has achieved is amazing, the length of time between winning the Champions League, 20 years, that is amazing and incredible.”
