Petr Cech has given his verdict on what he considers an ‘interesting’ Champions League draw.
We have been pitted against Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk and Danish champions FC Nordsjælland as we defend the trophy we lifted for the first time in Munich back in May.
All three teams are national champions, though Juventus provide the only opposition we have met before.
‘I think it’s a very interesting draw, and a very difficult draw as there are teams with a lot of European experience in Juventus and Shakhtar, and the Danish team who are for the first time in the Champions League and wanting to win every game, but we are European champions and favourites in the group,’ Cech said.
‘Juventus have a new stadium and it will be a big challenge for us, and with Shakhtar, I have shared a room with my Czech national team-mate Tomas Hubschmann so I know a lot about Shakhtar.
‘It will be nice to play against him for the first time and I hope I am going to win. Shakhtar also have Willlian, who everyone knows about, in fact they have a lot of good players, so as I said we know it will be difficult but we are European champions.’
That glorious night in Munich will bring confidence to Roberto Di Matteo’s men, though the beating dished out by Atletico Madrid on Friday night will act as a warning that standards must not slip in Europe’s premier club tournament.