Chelsea went out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage with an error-ridden display against Barcelona.<\/p>\n
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the visitors fell behind after just 128 seconds in the Nou Camp as Lionel Messi shot through the legs of Thibaut Courtois from a tight angle.<\/p>\n
Messi then set up Ousmane Dembele to hammer home the second after Cesc Fabregas lost possession.<\/p>\n
Marcos Alonso hit the post for Chelsea with a free-kick before Messi’s 100th Champions League goal – after a mistake by Cesar Azpilicueta – took the hosts out of sight.<\/p>\n
Alonso was then denied a penalty after a challenge by Gerard Pique as Barcelona joined La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Sevilla in Friday’s quarter-final draw.<\/p>\n
Chelsea, meanwhile, join fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United and Tottenham in exiting in the first knockout round.<\/p>\n
What next for Conte?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Chelsea’s elimination by the five-time winners is bound to add to the speculation about manager Antonio Conte’s future.<\/p>\n
The Blues’ hopes of retaining the Premier League title ended weeks ago, and they may not even secure the top-four finish they need to return to the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Conte’s side are fifth in the table, four points behind Liverpool, with their next league game at home to third-placed Tottenham on 1 April.<\/p>\n
They head to Leicester on Sunday for an FA Cup quarter-final knowing defeat will leave them without a trophy for the second time in three seasons.<\/p>\n
Conte, who has been in charge since the summer of 2016, has a contract until the summer of 2019 but has had to deny reports of a rift with the club’s owners.<\/p>\n
Speaking last month, the 48-year-old Italian said it is his “intention, will and desire” to stay at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
However, Chelsea have lost four of their past six league games, including back-to-back defeats by Bournemouth and Watford.<\/p>\n
What’s next?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Chelsea visit Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday (16:30 GMT). Barcelona return to the Nou Camp on Sunday (15:15) as they look to take another big step towards winning La Liga.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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