Chelsea’s revalidation – AS.com

Chelsea, reigning champions of the Champions League, have before them the biggest challenge in their history. The men led by Thomas Tuchel will defend the title they won in May 2021, when they defeated Guardiola’s Manchester City. But the past no longer matters, and what happens tonight at nine o’clock at Stamford Bridge will mark the future of the blues (follow the match live on As.com).

Opposite will be Lille, a team that snatched Ligue 1 from the almighty PSG last season, but is coming down. Some of its stars have come out, like Soumaré or Ikoné; and others, like Yilmaz, have stopped shining. The change of coach hasn’t helped either: Christophe Galtier managed to make the French club a national contender, but left in the summer. And Jocelyn Gourvennec, the new tenant on the bench, has had a difficult course. Especially in the domestic championship, where Les Dogues (the mastiffs) are in eleventh place.

Very different has been their role in the group stage of the Champions League, in which they beat Salzburg and Seville, and took first place, against all odds. Therefore, Chelsea will have to play the second leg at the Pierre-Marouy stadium, although away goals have lost their double value, and the London team will not start with such a disadvantage then.

Tuchel has bigger problems. His defense is cracked and he suffers from set pieces, while the attack lacks faith -Lukaku is in low hours-. That has taken Blues to third place in the Premier League, 13 points off the lead, which City retains. Hence, the German coach has focused his efforts on the Champions League, a competition that they are particularly good at, especially when the clashes are two-legged.