Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez says he will be approaching Thursday's Europa League last-32 clash against Sparta Prague as if it were a Champions League tie.
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Last season saw the Blues crowned European Cup kings after beating Bayern Munich on penalties in the final, although the defending champions crumbled at the group stages this term, finishing third to end up in the second-tier of European football.
Benitez, though, is determined to help ease that heartbreak by ensuring a deep run in the Europa League, and insists he will be putting all of his focus into the encounter.
"For them to play against the champions of Europe is massive, so we know that they will be ready," said Benitez. "And the main thing for us is to be sure that we are ready, that we analyse their team properly, so we have all the reports, and we give them the same information that we would give them in a Champions League game.
"At the beginning when you saw the draw, maybe some people would have said it is not a difficult draw. Not the case. They have been training for a month for this game. Just thinking about this game.
"It is a team that is well organised and has balance. It will not be easy. We have to focus on Prague. Sparta are a good team, a difficult team. We have the advantage of a second leg at home - but this is an important competition."
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