Contemplating Chelsea's Champions League chances

[BlueLion. 21,491]

To win the Champions League requires a top squad, a strong manager, and no small amount of good fortune.

Michael Ballack once famously said that Chelsea would win the big-eared trophy when they least expected it. He wasn’t wrong.

When the Blues beat Bayern Munich in their own back yard in May 2012, they did so with an ageing squad that, compared to the current personnel at Stamford Bridge, certainly lacked for world-class quality in one or two positions.

For all the experience that Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech brought to the table, the Blues’ starting eleven in the Allianz Arena included the likes of Ryan Bertrand, Salomon Kalou, José Bosingwa and John Obi Mikel; players who may not be short of heart and effort but most definitely have their technical shortcomings.

Whilst Chelsea don’t have the best squad in Europe – though, that being said, they didn’t in 2012 either – their ace in the hole is their manager, José Mourinho. The best tactical mind in football, Mourinho managed his side to the dominance of a domestic double in 2014/15 and next on the agenda is European honours with the Blues. One or two signings may have to be made, but the latest Champions League betting tips certainly take the Special One’s genius into account.

Many football fans – including some Chelsea supporters – believe the Blues’ current squad is short of one or two players that would really give them another shot at a Champions League triumph, but if the West London outfit can muster the same grim determination, and benefit from similar good fortune, as they did under Roberto di Matteo in 2012, there is no reason why José Mourinho’s men can’t be celebrating a second European Cup success next May.

Defensively, Chelsea were a shambles in 2012. The ragged partnership of David Luiz and Gary Cahill somehow stood firm in the way of exceptional odds in the Munich showpiece, whilst Bosingwa had to operate as a makeshift centre-half in that spectacular comeback in the Camp Nou.

Three seasons on, and whilst Chelsea’s defence hasn’t improved to a spectacular degree, the current centre-back pairing of Cahill and the revitalised John Terry has given the Blues a strong foundation, whilst Cesar Azpilicueta is as good a full-back there is currently on the European circuit. Whilst there may be concerns about the form of Branislav Ivanovic, with the world’s best young goalkeeper behind them in Thibaut Courtois, there is no reason why a Chelsea side that so often sets up deep against more attack-minded teams can’t find success in Europe again.

An area where Mourinho’s side has improved dramatically in the past twelve months is in central midfield, with the arrivals of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas giving the Blues a powerful combination of defensive steel and attacking nous. With the dynamism of Eden Hazard on the left wing and the more defensively-orientated Willian on the opposite side, there is a good degree of versatility in the Blues’ midfield, which can, when needed, be set up to play in both an aggressive, attacking manner, or in a more compact fashion.

Up front, the Blues have firepower on par with most European sides. Diego Costa is, without doubt, one of Europe’s premier strikers, with very few individuals able to boast the same impressive goalscoring statistics as Chelsea’s number 19. Whilst sides such as Barcelona have an imposing offensive trinity in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, Chelsea are an altogether different kind of beast that relies heavily on their striker being the focal point of, and foil for, their attacking play. With Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy waiting in the wings, the Blues certainly don’t lack for striking options from the bench, and there is plenty of goalscoring support from deeper in the team, too.

As Juventus showed in last season’s run to the Berlin final, it takes tactical excellence, defensive discipline, and no shortness in firepower to put a run together in the Champions League. Who would bet against Mourinho and his men upsetting the odds once more and making it three European trophies in five seasons? I certainly won’t…

Click here to view the article

[quickpassnmove 924]

Chelsea have one good centre midfielder: Matic and one top striker: Diego Costa. No one has emerged as -THE- right winger either as Hazard and Fabregas must carry the team again with Diego. Chelsea are NOT a top squad in Europe, so no, no chance on the CL unless they limp in and park the bus again.

Get something more in CM, another fullback and emergent winger this season along with a fully healthy Diego and Chelsea MIGHT have aspirations with something more than park-the-bus.

[LAM09 7,077]

The lack of creativity will hamper any hopes we have of going all the way. Still holding some hope that we'll rectify that before 2nd Sep.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Us winning the Cl would be a miracle like Munich. That night taught me miracles happen . but twice?

IMO Bayern, Barca and Real are stonger than they were back then. Plus PSG is also a bit ahead of us. We got a strong first xi no doubt. On its day we could take on any of those, but win over two matches? José does not have the tactics to play our strongest xi in big matches and bringing in Ramirez usually fucks our rhythm. Also our paper thin squad will be completely burnt out the time the big fixtures come. With the personnel we got we should focus on finishing top 4, get out of the group stages and win one or two domestic cups.

[Oscar 441]

Top 4:

Munich, Madrid, PSG and barca.

Really expect pep and munich to win the champs league this season. Anything can happen, but these 4 are probably my favorites.