For the second time since the 1999-2000 season, Chelsea has failed to record a win in their two opening games of a UCL campaign, and the new manager, Graham Potter will be worried about how he can turn the situation around when they play AC Milan home and away in their next games in the competition. However the last time Chelsea failed to win any of their two opening UCL games, here’s what they achieved in the end.
Chelsea finished third in the EPL table in the previous season 1998-99 and played against Skonto Riga in the third qualifying round which they won. Chelsea got drawn in Group H along with AC Milan, Hertha Berlin, and Galatasaray. Chelsea drew AC Milan in the first game and lost 2-1 to Hertha Berlin in the second game. They overturned the season when they defeated Galatasaray home and away in the following games (1-0,5-0). Chelsea drew Milan in the second leg and won Hertha Berlin 2-0 in the second leg too which made them finish on top of the Group H table that year.
According to UEFA’s setup then, Chelsea got transferred to another group (Group D) and was drawn against Feryernoord, Marseille, and Lazio. Chelsea finished second in this group with Lazio coming first. Chelsea won 3 games, drew one, and lost two games including their first home defeat in European competition (2-1) to Lazio.
Chelsea qualified for the knockout round where they were knocked out on an aggregate of 6-4 by FC Barcelona after initially winning the first leg by 3-1. The Catalans completed a second leg come back on the London club by whipping them 5-1 which brought an end to Chelsea’s UCL campaign that year.
This means that the current Chelsea squad can take confidence from their history and still make it to the round of 16 this season despite their poor start to the competition.
Do you think Graham Potter’s men can achieve this?