Can Chelsea Defend the UEFA Champions League Title?

Home » Sport » Can Chelsea Defend the UEFA Champions League Title? February 10, 2022

The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious football competition in Europe. That’s why the team that wins the precious trophy enjoys year-long praise and respect from the entire football community. 

Last season, that honour belonged to Chelsea, so it comes as no surprise that the Blues will give their best to stay on top for as long as possible. However, winning the Champions League title twice in a row is easier said than done, especially with the upcoming Premier League matches.

On top of that, the idea of holding a trophy and then seeing it slip from your hands puts even more pressure on the defending champion compared to the teams that have nothing to lose. For this reason, the odds of Chelsea winning the UEFA Champions League again won’t be so easy to predict.

Promising Knockout Phase

Last year, Chelsea managed to reach the top despite playing without a star centre-forward and spending only a few months under Thomas Tuchel. Considering Tuchel has fully implemented his tactics by now, and Romelu Lukaku jumped in, the Blues are definitely on the list of favourites for the league finals.

In addition, other factors can also help Chelsea reach the Champions League finals rather smoothly. According to the knockout phase schedule, the team has good chances to keep the UEFA Champions League trophy on its shelf.

First off, their first opponent, LOSC, has had a tough time staying on top of things after winning Ligue 1 last season. Apart from a victory over PSG in August, they haven’t had any notable accomplishments. In addition, when renowned players like Mike Maignan and Boubakary Soumare left the club, LOSC couldn’t afford adequate substitutions, which left the French team vulnerable and less likely to leave a mark this year. 

Another thing that goes hand in hand with Chelsea’s plans to win the Champions League again is the timing of the team’s game against LOSC. Namely, Chelsea will play its first Round of 16 matches a week after the game between PSG and Real Madrid. This game is significant since the team that moves forward will be the opponent of the Blues in the Round of 8. 

In other words, this schedule will allow Tuchel to analyse his team’s rival and make the plan of attack accordingly.

Manchester City — The Biggest Rival

Even though Chelsea definitely has a chance to keep the Champions League trophy, we can’t help but draw attention to other strong teams that can challenge the Blues and take over the throne this season.

The first pick, according to a variety of bookies and football experts, is Manchester City, a team that was only a step away from winning the trophy last season. The Citizens will have Sporting Lisbon on the other side of the field. Based on their magnificent performance in the Premier League, there’s no doubt they are ready to give their best to get the Champions League trophy this year.

Another team that seems to have great chances of winning this year’s Champions League cup is PSG — the best-ranked Ligue 1 team led by Mauricio Pochettino. What’s interesting about PSG is the club’s history with Thomas Tuchel, who was let go due to his inability to win the Champions League, after which he transferred to Chelsea and made that dream come true.

Perhaps Tuchel could’ve helped PSG get the title if the team’s management gave him more time to do it. Nevertheless, Les Parisiens have a few aces up their sleeves, such as Messi, Sergio Ramos, Hakimi, Donnarumma, and other highly valuable players. These guys are known for their ability to do magic on the field, which makes PSG a team to look out for when it comes to this year’s UEFA Champions League.