Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea “the real Champions League starts now” after the Blues romped through Group G with a tournament high 17 goals.
The Premier League leaders’ place in the last 16 was already confirmed prior to their 3-1 defeat of Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
The Blues could play Juventus, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Paris St Germain or Shakhtar Donetsk in February’s first knock-out round.
“I don’t think any of the big teams is out of the Champions League now. Maybe Liverpool,” Mourinho said.
“But all the teams that want to win the competition, they’re all in the competition.
“Season after season you repeat this; normally everyone is in the last 16.
“Everybody’s there, so the Champions League starts now.
“What can we do? I don’t know. Last season, for sure, we were not one of the top four and we played in the Champions League semi-finals.
“Let’s see what we can do this season, step by step.”
Chelsea will discover their opponents in Monday’s draw.
Immediately after the match Mourinho told Sky Sports: “There are a few sharks in the ocean.”
Asked if he likes swimming with sharks, Mourinho said: “Yes, I like. In a cage. I did it in French Polynesia. I didn’t want to go, but my wife and my kids, they pushed me.”
He has no preference for the last 16, but would not underestimate any opponent.
“The draw is the draw,” Mourinho said.
“We have five possible opponents.
“I’m happy (Manchester) City and Arsenal went through. I’m not happy they finished second because they blocked two other possible opponents.
“Paris would be good, because it’s easy to travel for us, for the fans. It would be good, but we can’t decide the draw.
“The hardest? Everyone is hard. You think Basel is easy? We lost twice against them last year. They beat Liverpool and three years ago they beat Manchester United.
“Leverkusen, Shakhtar... I don’t think there are any easy teams at the moment.”
Asked why he was pleased two other English teams had advanced, Mourinho explained it would benefit Chelsea’s Premier League push.
He added: “I work in England. I want the prestige of English football and I hope they do well.
“And we have also Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in the Europa League, so I wish them good (luck) too.
“At the same time it’s good for us that our direct opponents in the Premier League are involved in European competitions.
“Manchester United are not. They have the same advantage that Liverpool had last season in terms of the Premier League, a big advantage.”