The Blues arrived in Germany on Tuesday as the excitement continues to build, ahead of a huge first match of our 2025/26 European campaign, when we will start our return to Champions League action away at Bayern Munich.

It is a game full of history, between two of the continent’s biggest clubs and a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final, when Chelsea lifted the trophy for the first time in the same Allianz Arena venue where we will play tomorrow.

It is our first game in Europe’s top club competition after a two-year absence, having competed in the UEFA Conference League last season.

‘First of all, we are very happy to be in this competition,’ said Maresca in Munich. ‘One year ago we were playing in the Conference League play-off, so we are happy to be here.’

Of course, Chelsea emerged triumphant in the Conference League, going all the way before beating Real Betis in the final in Poland. We then followed up that success with another victory over the summer, defeating Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in New York to add the FIFA Club World Cup to our trophy haul.

Maresca believes those successes for this young Blues squad could serve us well in this season’s Champions League campaign, providing the players with valuable experience and confidence.

‘For sure, winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup helped in different aspects and then in terms of experience,’ he explained.

‘Absolutely when you win games it helps to improve confidence and different aspects, but you know that every game and competition is different.

‘Bayern in this moment is probably one of the favourites but we will try to do our best.’