Chelsea are stronger contenders in this season’s Champions League than Barcelona and Real Madrid, according to Glenn Hoddle.
The former Blues manager believes that Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich remained favourites to lift the trophy next May.
But he insisted that Chelsea’s revamped goal-laden squad had the edge over traditional powerhouses Real and Barca who are struggling domestically and sit fourth and seventh respectively in La Liga.
Real sit third in their Champions League group with one game remaining and are in danger of failing to make the knockout stages.
“Looking at the teams that are there, obviously Liverpool and Manchester City, they are going to be there and or thereabouts,” he said on BT Sport.
“For City it’s their number one priority whether they tell you that or not, they want to win the Champions League.
“You can’t look past Bayern Munich because they are so powerful, but you have got to put Chelsea up there.
“For me at this moment, they are above Barcelona and above Real Madrid.
“They are two massive clubs, but Chelsea’s team is better than theirs.”
Hoddle’s optimism was buoyed by Wednesday’s impressive 4-0 win at Sevilla which guaranteed Frank Lampard’s side top spot in Group E and a more favourable draw for the knockout stages.
“In this moment in time I think they have got to be looking at at least the semi-final and you get to a semi-final, anything can happen,” he added.
“And they have international players who are going to get better as the season goes, and if the crowds are full and we are back to full houses, we haven’t seen this Chelsea side inspired by a crowd, and the bigger the occasion the better the best players are.
“There is more to come from Chelsea.”