Defending crowns of Europe are through the quarter-finals after beating LOSC Lille with an aggregate of 4-1 beating them in both the legs 2-0 and 2-1.
Blues favourite Kai Havertz gave an early lead by scoring in the 8th minute in the first leg and C. Pulisic scored apiece in both the legs. C. Azpilicueta also etched himself at the back of the net in the 2nd leg. Enclosing round 16 match, Blues are nothing short of stupendous performance, rather they have successfully articulated a message throughout Europe that they still breathe and hails that quality and power and stands at the top whistling they are a team to beat.
Former Chelsea's player Joe Cole commented, " Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are the teams I think can win realistically. I'd probably put Chelsea third or fourth. I think Man City and Liverpool are outstanding at the moment, and Cup competition are about the moment, the form they're in. All of those teams would want Villarreal, Benfica, Atlético, even Real Madrid I don't think can win it".
Cole further reckoned Benfica would be the best draw for his former side.
The skittish statement on Chelsea chance in UCL was over shadowed by a sky-high confident comment made by the German Chelsea's coach Thomas Tuchel who said, "I want us to be the team nobody wants to play. This is the role we see ourselves in this round of eight. It's a big step to do it again, again, and again. We fight for the top four places in the toughest league maybe in the world right now and we fight in the last eight again.So this brings out the best in us and we want to be the team nobody wants to play against. So let's see what happens." concluded.
Uncertainties and crisis circling around the club off the ground has been capitalised to some degree of stability with a majestic and belligerent yet classy performance in the pre quarter-finals rioting France Ligue 1 club Lille out of competition.
Stamford Bridge's Champions League Trophy.
Chelsea has won champions league twice:2012 and 2021.
