Chelsea was handed a tough last 16 assignment against the five-time European champion.

"Our reaction must be positive," Conte said. "As we know very well, when you are in this stage you must be ready to face every team. In this case we must be ready to face Barcelona.

"When you play Barcelona, you must put in 120 per cent at home and away if you want to hope to go to the next round."

The two teams have met on five previous occasions in the Champions League knockout stage.

"The past is the past. Now it's the present, another story. It's totally different," Conte said. "I think this type of game is a good chance for every player to show the right value. Every player has to play in the right way."

Ahead of the first leg against Barca on 20 February, the Italian is focused on ensuring Chelsea's domestic form improves.

The reigning Premier League champion is 14 points behind leader Manchester City after suffering a fourth defeat of the top-flight season, 1-0 at West Ham.

"I think our priority must be the league, must be to try to stay up and try to fight for a Champions League place. That must be our priority in this moment," Conte said. "Then when it will be the moment to play against Barcelona we will start to think of the game against Barcelona.

"We must be very realistic to understand that this league is very dangerous. We have to go game by game."