Chelsea announce themselves as CL contenders

 After an emphatic 5-0 win away to German side Schalke, Chelsea have put themselves right amongst the favourites for this years Champions League, and rightly so.

The win sees Mourinho’s side win Group G and guarantee their place in the last 16 as expected, impressively, no player scored twice in the win and top-scorer Diego Costa did not get in on the scoring act showing the quality and goal-scoring ability of the whole squad.

Of course there is no point in getting carried away, Schalke are no great shakes, they currently lie 7^th in the Bundesliga but to go to Germany under any circumstances and come away with a 5-0 win is no mean feat.

The win has now propelled Chelsea into serious contenders for the Champions League in the eyes of many. They are unbeaten both domestically and in Europe and with a manager of the calibre of Jose Mourinho it would be foolish to write them off.

From back to front they look like a solid outfit, the goals of Diego Costa and assists added by the capture of Cesc Fabregas have turned last season’s good team into an excellent side.

Mourinho has never won the Champions League as manager of Chelsea and he may see this year as one of the best opportunities he will have of ever doing this looking at the squad he has at his disposal.

Chelsea are most definitely the favourite of all the English sides to claim European glory this season but whether they are capable of toppling the main powers from across Europe is yet to be seen. Real Madrid are currently outright favourites to retain their title and with Cristiano Ronaldo bang in form it is hard to see any side stopping them.

After last years disappointment Pep Guardiola and his Bayern Munich side are looking to make amends and look to be Madrid’ biggest rivals although Manchester City showed yesterday that they are by no means unbeatable.

The only other team that Chelsea will see as a big threat will be the usual force that is Barcelona, Luis Enrique’s side are beginning to settle down under his leadership and nobody can write off a team with the Champions League’s all time top goal-scorer, Lionel Messi, in it.

This seasons Champions League is as exciting as ever with each of the aforementioned teams capable of beating each other on any given day and Jose Mourinho will be hoping that if Chelsea keep their remarkable form up that this could be their year.