‘No doubt’ - Former Chelsea manager delighted with Champions League group stage draw

Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle has ‘no doubt’ his old club will navigate their way through the Champions League group stages this season.

The Blues will face a reunion with former defender Fikayo Tomori after they were paired with Serie A giants AC Milan in the group stage draw.

The England centre-back moved to the San Siro on loan during the January 2021 transfer window and turned the move into a permanent deal last summer.

Tomori’s first full season in Italy was a major success as he played a key role in helping Milan lift their first Serie A title in a decade.

He will now return to Stamford Bridge for the first time as an opposition player in what looks a favourable group stage draw for his former and current employers.

Austrian champions RB Salzburg and Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb complete the group and the former Blues player-manager is confident his old club can progress.

He told BT Sport: “I don’t think they are at where they want to be and I think there is more to come from them.

“Looking at this group, Milan is a great fixture, home or away.

“Zagreb and Salzburg there, you’ve got to say Chelsea are going to get through in this group.

“It’s good, and looking at that, I think every English team and possibly Celtic could get through.

“But I think Chelsea will get through, no doubt about it.

“For them, it’s about improving the group of players.  They’ve got a very good squad but they need a number nine.”

Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was named as UEFA’s Men’s Coach of the Year following the draw after he led Real Madrid to a La Liga-Champions League double last season.