Joe Cole has claimed that Manchester City and Liverpool are better placed to win the Champions League than Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel’s side host Lille in the first leg of their last-16 clash on Tuesday, and the significance of the competition has taken on even greater importance given that they're seemingly no longer in the title race.
The Blues are thirteen points behind leaders Man City and seven behind Liverpool, meaning the success of their season is likely to be defined in cup competitions.
Chelsea have already captured silverware after winning the Club World Cup earlier this month, but Cole believes that in terms of lifting European football’s biggest club prize; they remain behind the Premier League’s top two.
“I think they sit slightly behind Manchester City and Liverpool at the moment because of current form," the former Blues midfielder told BT Sport.
However, Tuchel’s side have only played one league game in the whole of February due to their exploits in the Club World Cup.
Cole feels that the extended break they’ve enjoyed coupled with the fact they’ve already got a trophy in the cabinet may give them a slight edge on their Champions League rivals.
He added: “This [winning the Club World Cup] will have given the boys a massive, massive lift and anytime you win a trophy it gives you something, it makes you feel that burn in your belly where you’re ready to go again, do it again.
“I think having not played in the Premier League for a month, going away to the world club championship, winning that trophy, it sort of gives the club a leveller.
“Go away, get rested, give everyone a lift, win a trophy and now come back and start again tonight.”
