Chelsea: Fans react as Blues look ahead to Champions League return

Loads of Chelsea supporters have been rallying in response to a post on the Stamford Bridge native’s official Twitter account looking ahead to the Blues’ return to the Champions League against Valencia CF on Tuesday.

Chelsea last featured in the premier UEFA competition when FC Barcelona eliminated them during the Round of 16 in March 2018, after the two sides drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge before the La Liga giant pulled clear to hold a 4-1 aggregate lead at the Camp Nou.

The West London side return to the Champions League this season as the reigning Europa League holders, though, after beating Arsenal 4-1 in Baku, Azerbaijan in May having already secured a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Frank Lampard’s Blues will face Valencia, LOSC Lille and last season’s semi-finalists Ajax in the Group Stage of the Champions League over the coming months, with Valencia their first Group H opponent of the tournament.

Chelsea go into the Tuesday night clash on the back of beating Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 5-2 at Molineux on Saturday, where Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount provided the goals. Antonio Rudiger was a casualty of the Premier League win, however, and missed training on Monday, according to The Athletic’s Simon Johnson.

Valencia, meanwhile, travel to Stamford Bridge on the back of losing 5-2 away to Barcelona at the weekend, a result which left Albert Celades’ side 13th in the La Liga table and six points behind early leaders Sevilla after the opening four games.

Celades’ men have struggled to maintain possession in their opening league games this term, with the Mestalla natives averaging 44% possession, 14 unsuccessful touches and have been dispossessed 7.8 times a game, per WhoScored data.

Chelsea have also had their struggles retaining the ball, with the Blues averaging 17.4 unsuccessful touches per league game this term, but have averaged 54.2% possession and completed 84.4% of all passes.

Fans are now keen to see Lampard maintain the momentum his side gained by beating Wolves at the weekend, and potentially go on to win the Champions League.

Here are a few of the messages shared…