After two long campaigns away, Chelsea are back where they belong and set to play in the Champions League next season.
The Blues finished 4th in the Premier League this season, securing their place after beating Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.
Jamie Carragher doubted Chelsea’s bottle in the big moment, however they snapped their nightmare run away from home with their biggest win of the season.
Owner Todd Boehly embraced players and staff after the final whistle, as he saw his ambitious project reach the next stage and continue to head in the right direction.
The goal for Maresca was Champions League qualification this season in order to bring huge European games back to Stamford Bridge following a season in the Conference League.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Chelsea learn potential Champions League group stage opponents
Given how successful the Blues have been in Europe in recent history, they will have the advantage of being in Pot One when the draw is completed for the group stages of next season’s competition.
According to ESPN, they will be one of three English sides in this pot, with them unable to face either of Manchester City or Liverpool.
This means that they will play two of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG, Borussia Dortmund or Inter Milan. One of those will be the first European giants to make the trip to Stamford Bridge.
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For many in the youngest squad in Premier League history, it will be their first experience of playing in the Champions League, however many deserve the opportunity.
The likes of Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill have more than earned their chance to take on the very best Europe have to offer.
Photo by Kristian Skeie UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Kristian Skeie UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Chelsea’s most recent results against potential Champions League opponents.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea did not have many highlights, however one of those was the thrilling Round of 16 victory against Borussia Dortmund.
They went on to lose to Real Madrid in the next round with Frank Lampard in charge, with Ben Chilwell picking up a red card during the tie.
Chelsea have had both thrills and heartbreak against Barcelona, however their last tie against them saw them dumped out of the 2017/18 Champions League at the Round of 16 stage.
The Blues have only faced Inter once in the competition, with Jose Mourinho coming back to haunt them with a 3-1 aggregate win on the way to winning it in 2010.
Chelsea faced PSG in three successive years between 2014 and 2016, winning the first tie in dramatic fashion thanks to Demba Ba’s late winner.
They won their first Champions League on penalties against Bayern Munich, however since then were comfortably defeated in the unique 2019/20 season.