Jamie Carragher gives his 'hot take' on Chelsea ahead of the new season, fans won't like it

There is definitely a lot of excitement around the Chelsea fanbase going into the new season. We’re certain that Blues supporters won’t enjoy hearing Jamie Carragher’s “hot take” on the club, though.

It feels like Chelsea are currently as strong as they’ve been for the last few years, with the talented young squad finally starting to gel together.

Of course, Blues head coach Enzo Maresca, 45, deserves major credit for an impressive debut season at Stamford Bridge last year. Can he now follow it up in the new campaign?

Maresca, who’s nominated for Coach of the Year, will be aware that the expectation is growing on his team.

Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Jamie Carragher predicts Chelsea will flop in Champions League

Ahead of the new 2025/26 season, pundit Jamie Carragher was asked to make a bold prediction on Chelsea. In response, he made the random guess that the Blues would fail to make it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

When asked for his hot take on Chelsea, Carragher said on The Overlap: “Hot take on Chelsea from me. I don’t think Chelsea will qualify out of the Champions League group stage.”

After two years away from the Champions League, Chelsea are back in Europe’s elite club competition for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.

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The format of the tournament has changed, though. The Champions League is now split into a league phase, followed by a traditional knockout phase.

In the first phase, clubs play eight different clubs, four home and four away, as part of a 36-team league. Afterwards, the top eight qualify automatically for the round of 16 in the knockouts, while sides between ninth and 24th enter the knockout play-offs.

Even though Chelsea have been away from Europe’s top table for the last two seasons, they did win both the Club World Cup and Conference League last term. We would see it as a major shock if the Blues don’t make it out of the league phase in this year’s Champions League, but let’s wait and see who they will be playing.

Incidentally, Chelsea youngster Dastan Satpaev could be playing in the Champions League because his Kairat Almaty side will enter the league phase if they beat Celtic in a two-legged play-off this month.

Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Chelsea’s history in the Champions League

In terms of English clubs in Europe during the 21st century, Chelsea have done as well as anybody. In particular, they’ve won the Champions League twice, in 2012 and 2021.

Most Chelsea appearances in the Champions League Most Chelsea goals in the Champions League John Terry – 111 Didier Drogba – 36 Frank Lampard – 104 Frank Lampard – 23 Petr Cech – 94 Nicolas Anelka – 12 Didier Drogba – 74 Fernando Torres – 10 Cesar Azpilicueta – 63 John Terry – 10 Ashley Cole – 60 Willian – 10 Chelsea records via the Champions League’s official website

Jody Morris claims Cole Palmer can reach another level by shining for Chelsea in the Champions League, and we agree it’s an opportunity to enhance his reputation even further.

We’re certainly not expecting this young Blues group to immediately become one of the top sides in Europe next season, but it’s quite obvious that they do suit tournament football. Unlike Carragher, we think they could be an outside shot to go quite deep into the competition.

The history that Chelsea have in the Champions League certainly counts for something.

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