Your Chelsea morning digest on Thursday, February 16.
Joe Cole prediction
Joe Cole has put Chelsea in the bracket of potential winners of the Champions League but there's fierce competition for the trophy, he says. With Bayern Munich already securing a valuable result against Paris Saint-Germain one of the favourites will be knocked out at this round whilst previous success can hold Graham Potter's side in good stead.
"I think Chelsea are one of 10 or 11 teams that can win it," Cole said. "Cup football, you have to do it on the night. Chelsea have players who can do it on the night against anyone. It's also a welcome distraction, the league form hasn't been as good as Chelsea would have hoped.
"The Champions League becomes like a respite because nobody is expecting Chelsea to win it. It's not a free hit but gets you out of the shackles a little bit and that can springboard to the league form."
Read the full story here.
READ MORE : Ben Chilwell has argument as Chelsea include surprise player in training for Borussia Dortmund
Gianfranco Zola downplays striker importance
Gianfranco Zola has offered his thoughts on Chelsea's lack of striker. The Blues have struggled to score goals consistently this season and have club record signing Romelu Lukaku on loan at Inter Milan after a disastrous return last term.
Kai Havertz has been the man to lead the line so far this campaign but his suitability to the role has been doubted. Joao Felix's addition to the squad looks to have aided the German but the long-term answer is still unknown. Club legend Zola doesn't think it's necessarily a simple solution, either.
"You can play and win things without a No.9," he told Football Daily. "Two years ago they [Chelsea] won the Champions League. [Thomas Tuchel] was playing with Kai [Havertz], [Timo] Werner and other No.10s. Sometimes Mason [Mount], somebody else, [Hakim] Ziyech or whoever and they were very successful."
Read the full story here.
Santos spotted at Dortmund vs Chelsea
Andrey Santos was spotted with Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali at the Signal Iduna Park ahead of Chelsea's clash with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16. The 18-year-old joined the Blues from Brazilian second division side Vasco da Gama in the summer for £18million but he's yet to be granted a work permit.
According to the Evening Standard, the west Londoners will re-apply for Santos' work permit upon his return to London as an Under-20 South American Championship winner. He was a standout performer at the tournament, netting six goals in six games from defensive midfield.
The report states that Santos missed out on a permit by just one point when he first joined Chelsea but, after leading his country to glory, the club are hopeful he will be successful at the second time of asking.
READ NEXT:
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Andrey Santos spotted with Todd Boehly at Signal Iduna Park as Chelsea await work permit verdict
Graham Potter explains bold Ben Chilwell decision as Chelsea star dropped vs Borussia Dortmund
Neymar £50m Chelsea transfer could force Christian Pulisic decision amid Arsenal links
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