Antonio Conte urges Chelsea to remain positive despite facing Barcelona in the Champions League last 16

Antonio Conte has called on Chelsea to remain positive about their Champions League prospects despite drawing five-time winners Barcelona in the Round of 16.

The Blues were left with a draw that would see them face one of Barca, Besiktas or Paris Saint-Germain as they were unable to face an English side – all of whom topped their group.

Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham on Saturday saw Conte rule them out of the Premier League title hunt with the Italian insisting that they would focus on the Champions League and domestic trophies instead.

As a result, being drawn against Barcelona would have severely hit those plans but Conte has urged his side to be positive that they can progress in the competition.

“It's a draw. Our reaction must be positive,” Conte said on Monday ahead of Tuesday's Premier League clash at Huddersfield. “When you are in this stage you must be ready to face every team. In this case we must be ready to face Barcelona.

“When you play against Barcelona you must put 120 per cent at home and away if you want to hope to go to the next round.”

The first leg takes place at Stamford Bridge on February 20 - and is scheduled to be followed by Premier League matches at Manchester United (February 24) and Manchester City (March 3) - with the second leg at the Nou Camp on March 14.

And Conte's immediate focus is on the Premier League after last Saturday's loss at West Ham saw the Blues slip 14 points behind City as the Italian dismissed past battles with Barca.

But he will hope to invoke the memory of their remarkable win over the Catalan giants in 2012, when goals from Ramires and Fernando Torres saw them reach the Champions League final on away goals despite the earlier dismissal of John Terry.

“The past is the past. Now it's the present, another story. It's totally different,” he added.