For the first time ever, six English teams—Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham—are set to feature in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament. ..Continue Reading
Among them, Arsenal made the deepest run last season, reaching the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
This year, the Gunners return alongside Liverpool and Manchester City, each boasting revamped squads following a busy transfer window.
Joining them in the newly structured eight-game league phase are Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, rounding out a formidable English presence in the competition.
Chelsea secured their Champions League spot with a top-four Premier League finish and added to their European credentials by winning the Conference League.
Cole, who once starred for the Blues, believes his former club—twice crowned Champions League winners—could spring a surprise as they make their return to the tournament for the first time since 2023.
‘I’d put them in a bracket just at the top of the dark horses and bottom of the teams who you might expect to be in the latter stages of the competition,’ Cole told TNT Sports when asked to rate Chelsea’s chances in this season’s competition.
But, the Englishman fears that Chelsea’s reliance on Robert Sanchez in goal and the injury suffered by Levi Colwill could well prove their undoing against the best clubs in Europe.
‘It all depends, I think, on the performance of the goalkeeper Sanchez,’ Cole added.
Chelsea’s Champions League league phase fixtures
17th September: Bayern Munich vs Chelsea
30 September: Chelsea vs Benfica
22 October: Chelsea vs Ajax
5 November: Qarabag vs Chelsea
25 November: Chelsea vs Barcelona
9 December: Atalanta vs Chelsea
21 January: Chelsea vs Pafos
28 January: Napoli vs Chelsea
‘That was the one area of the pitch, if you asked Chelsea fans where they needed to improve, that they would have gone for.
‘Levi at the back end of last season was brilliant. Centre halves mature later, and he looked like he had this surge, and something clicked with him.
‘He scored at the City Ground to secure Champions League football and was then brilliant at the Club World Cup.
‘No he’s out, you’re looking around at the other options. (Wesley) Fofana is a top player, but you can’t rely on him because of injuries, so they do need to improve that area of the pitch.’
Chelsea begin the competition with a tough trip to Germany to take on Bayern Munich, but must also face off against Napoli and Barcelona, later on in the league phase.
Asked about his team’s draw, Maresca said: ‘We are happy to be in the draw. We are happy, very happy, because we brought this club where this club has to be: the Champions League.
‘The draw is always a draw, it’s nice to be there, and when we start the Champions League we will start thinking about that.’
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