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Graham Potter delivers Chelsea verdict on Real Madrid & Carlo Ancelotti after Champions League draw

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(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Graham Potter has reacted to Chelsea drawing Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

After progressing past Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea were handed a last-eight tie against the reigning Champions League winners for the second season running.

Chelsea were knocked out in extra-time last year and will be hoping to get revenge on the Spanish side, whom they have now faced three seasons in a row.

The first leg will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu with the second at Stamford Bridge next month, giving Chelsea the home advantage in the return leg.

Christian Pulisic has backed Chelsea to progress past Real Madrid next month over the two legs, telling ESPN: “I wouldn’t want to play us in the Champions League, I’ll say that much.

“We were in a similar situation the last time we won the Champions League half way through the year; struggling in the league and a lot of people counting us out. Look what happened then.

“Has it been easy in recent weeks? No, but I’m proud of the way that the team has overcome it.

“The last week we’ve had, getting three wins in a row. You know how fast things can change in football, it’s a snap of a finger. Especially with a team of a lot of new players, you start to feel each other out a little bit more. The team all of sudden looks a dangerous team to play against.

“Is it going to be easy? No. Are we going to have big fights, tough battles and big teams that we’re going to play against to get there (Champions League final)? 100 percent. But we are ready for it and we’re excited for the challenge.”

Head coach Graham Potter’s aim is to try to win the Champions League. On Thursday night at a club event, he said: “We’ll try and beat Everton, then we’ll take the draw, and then we’ll try and win the f*****g Champions League.”

Following the quarter-final draw and ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash vs Everton, Potter offered his verdict on Real Madrid and their manager Carlo Ancelotti.

He told reporters: “I said we would try to *bleep* win the Champions League! That’s the same for every seven clubs. They will also say that they could lose in the quarter-final because that’s the nature of the Champions League.

“We’ll focus on Real Madrid when we get there. At the moment, it’s Everton.”

Potter added: “The feeling is excitement but, as I’ve said, I’d rather speak about Everton because that’s the game tomorrow. The other stuff is a long way away.”

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