UEFA Champions League 2017/18, Chelsea 6-0 Qarabag: 5 Talking Points

#3 Conte out to improve Champions League record

Antonio Conte has a point to prove

Despite returning Juventus to the pinnacle of Italian football and keeping them there throughout his tenure as the club’s manager, Conte failed to make much of an impression on the Champions League.

Granted, the Bianconeri were unfortunate to be drawn against eventual champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals in 2012/13, although supporters would have hoped to see their side put up more of a fight than they ultimately did in a 4-0 aggregate reverse. Yet the following season was an unmitigated disaster, as Juve failed to make it out of the group stage after winning only of six games against Copenhagen, Real Madrid and Galatasaray.

They were then relegated to the Europa League and, with the final set to be played at their home stadium, the Old Lady expected to go all the way; instead, they were knocked out in the last four by Benfica, who were later beaten by Sevilla at the showpiece event in Turin.

Conte’s record at the domestic level is outstanding, but he will be desperate to do better in the Champions League this year. While Tuesday’s triumph represents an excellent start, the Italian will be fully aware that stiffer challenges await.