Steaua Bucharest goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu fired a broadside at Chelsea ahead of their Europa League clash by dismissing the quality of the Premier League.
Chelsea take on the Romanian side in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Bucharest tomorrow night.
Steaua showed their quality by knocking out Ajax, who finished above Manchester City in their Champions League group earlier in the season, in the previous round of the competition.
Tatarusanu admits Chelsea will be a much tougher challenge than the Dutch giants but he believes the quality of football in England is not that great and relies too much on set-pieces.
“I have noticed something interesting,” he said. “Even though the Premier League has some of the most skillful players in the world, the teams still base their game on free-kicks and corners.
“These create enormous excitement among English fans — foreign supporters watching matches in the UK will notice how corners prompt celebrations in the stands.
As a goalkeeper, I understand this and will do my best to avoid conceding goals.
“As we proved in the two European games against Ajax, we can be a match for anyone, no matter who they are.
“Chelsea are a better team [than Ajax] — they are the Champions League holders so they are obviously the stronger team.
“Sure, it will be much harder than a game against a top Romanian side and I have no doubt I will have much more work to do than against a ‘normal’ European team.”
Just like last season, Chelsea could end up being English football’s last hope of winning a European trophy this season.
Arsenal are not expected to come back against Bayern Munich next week, which means there will be no Premier League teams in the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 1996.
Tottenham and Newcastle are also in the last 16 of the Europa League but face tough ties, against Inter Milan and Anzhi Makhachkala respectively.
