Joe Cole says Chelsea have found their own Kevin De Bruyne to give them Champions League edge

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has backed the Blues to win their third Champions League trophy this season with the help of Romelu Lukaku. Thomas Tuchel's side enjoyed the start of the European top tier as the Belgium international netted the winning goal against the club's first group stage rivals Zenit last night. "Before the season, everyone knew Chelsea were in the market for a No.9 – and realistically, there were only five names who were going to cut it," Cole said as quoted by The Mirror, “You are looking at Lewandowski, Haaland, Mbappe, Ronaldo and Lukaku, all of them in the very top bracket. "None of them comes cheap because they are the best in the business, but when you break it down, and look at the attributes Chelsea needed, Lukaku was a great piece of business. “We’re talking about a proven goalscorer, who is 28 and at the peak of his powers. The complete package – pace, power, great in the air, a finisher, the lot. “Why did he leave Chelsea in the first place? You can have the same conversation about Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah, but there’s no mystery about Lukaku coming back to the club. “When you are the champions of Europe, to defend your title you need the very best players – right here, right now, not next week or next year. “You can’t be like Tottenham or Arsenal, taking on players at 21 or 22 and looking to develop them over a few years – Chelsea need that ­firepower now. “When he looks back at the end of his career, maybe Romelu will accept he wasn’t ready to lead the line for Chelsea eight or nine years ago, and that he needed to make that journey round the houses to release his ­potential. “But this is the right time for him to take on the responsibility, and he will give Chelsea that extra four or five percent which could help them win the Champions League again."

Source: Football London 

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Champions League: Chelsea 1-0 Zenit