Pot Four: Astana, BATE Borisov, Borussia Monchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Gent, Malmo
Kazakhstan champions Astana – the first team from their country to reach the group stages of the Champions League – seem like the obvious weak link, but a long trip to Eurasia is slightly off-putting.
Mourinho was reluctant to rotate his squad – high in quality but not in quantity – last season, and so might be looking to avoid travelling great distances to minimise the damage done to his players.
Instead, Belgian champions Gent might be a more attractive draw. Former Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle’s Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach are certainly the strongest sides in this pot.
Of the Bundesliga clubs, Wolfsburg would be the ones that Chelsea will be hoping to dodge. They are full of pace and goals and appear as though they might hang on to Samford Bridge flop Kevin de Bruyne.
Conclusion:
Worst possible outcome: Chelsea, Real Madrid, Roma, Wolfsburg
Best possible outcome: Chelsea, Valencia, Olympiakos, Gent
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