Chelsea skipper, Reece James, has said the Blues are ready to set their sights high as they return to the Champions League stage after a two-year absence.
The West London club, who lifted both the Conference League and the Club World Cup during that period, open their 2025–26 campaign with a daunting trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The clash takes place at the Allianz Arena, the very ground where Chelsea claimed their first Champions League crown back in 2012.
Speaking to the club’s official website ahead of the encounter, James underlined the significance of Chelsea’s return to Europe’s premier competition.
“The Champions League is where the club belongs,” he said. “We’re happy to be back playing against the best teams and competing in the best competitions, because we haven’t been in this one for the last two seasons. Captaining Chelsea was always something I dreamt of, especially in the Champions League. Having been here a while now, and seeing the change and how we’ve had to adapt, we’re in a good position.
“We finished last season super strong and I hope this season we can build on that. I don’t look at what other people say; we can achieve anything as long as we understand and believe. We know we can go far with the team we have. That’s all that matters.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s test, the England international acknowledged the strength of their opponents.
“They are always super strong. They are a European giant, and they have won the competition before and know what it takes. So, it will be a super tough game.”
