'Be the best on the night' – Joe Cole backs Chelsea as Champions League contenders despite struggles

Former Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole has backed his old club as Champions League contenders, despite their poor form in the Premier League. The Blues fired Thomas Tuchel earlier in the season and replaced him with Graham Potter.

However the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager has struggled to get his team playing consistently, with the London club sitting 10th in the Premier League table, 20 points behind leaders Arsenal and 10 points off Newcastle United in fourth. Ad But despite this Cole still believes that his old team can challenge for Europe’s premier competition, pointing out that knockout football is a completely different beast.

Champions League'You don't know anything' – Potter hits back at criticsAN HOUR AGO “The Champions League is an opportunity for anyone as it’s knockout football,” Cole told BTSport.com in an exclusive interview. “They are one of 10 teams who could win it and on a one-off night they have the quality to beat anyone.

«We’ve seen teams who are not necessarily challenging in their league get to the final or win it – Chelsea themselves have done it before, “You just have to be the best on the night.” Chelsea will face Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening in their last 16 first leg knockout clash. 'You don't know anything' – Potter hits back at critics Chelsea enter race to sign £130m Bellingham — Paper Round 'PSG woke up when he was subbed on' — Nagelsmann wary of Mbappe influence in second leg Having struggled earlier in the season, Dortmund’s form has picked up and they are now third in the Bundesliga, just three points behind leaders Bayern Munich.