Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea should be considered as potential dark horses to win the Champions League this season.
After being knocked out at the last-16 stage by German giants Bayern Munich last season, losing 7-1 on aggregate, the Blues cruised to that stage of the competition this time around, winning Group E ahead of Sevilla, Rennes and Krasnodar.
Frank Lampard's side, who are currently on an unbeaten run of 14 games, won four of their six group matches, finishing one point clear of Sevilla at the summit.
Though the Blues could be drawn against one of the likes of Barcelona, Ajax or RB Leipzig in the last-16, with the draw being made next week, Ferdinand believes they have the credentials to to challenge for European football's ultimate prize.
“They could be, definitely," Ferdinand told BT Sport. "They’re a team that are starting to gel together.
"Frank’s done very good business up until now. It’s difficult. Get through the Christmas period, see how the team is shaping up injury-wise and form-wise.
"We’ll have to re-address this as well, our form and expectations for each team because form and injuries play a big part.”
The Blues, of course, have laid their hands on the Champions League trophy in the past, winning it in 2012, defeating Bayern on penalties in their own back yard. However, Chelsea have not reached the final since.
Remarkably, you have to go all the way back to the 2013/14 campaign for the last time the Stamford Bridge outfit made it beyond the last-16. That season, they reached the semi-finals of the competition before being dumped out by Atletico Madrid, losing 3-1 on aggregate.
