Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed the one tie in the Champions League that he is looking forward to playing the most.
Chelsea have been drawn against AC Milan, Dinamo Zagreb and RB Salzburg as they look to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League this season.
Tuchel and Chelsea have a great relationship in the competition, lifting the European trophy just months after the German took over from Frank Lampard in London.
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There will be a reunion in the ties, with Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori facing off against Chelsea for the first time since their departures.
The pair lifted the Serie A title with Milan last season and will be looking to compete in the Champions League this season, having to overcome Chelsea in the group stages.
Tuchel previously joked about Chelsea’s Champions League group, stating that there will be no away tickets available due to the high demand from Mateo Kovacic, who will return to Milan as a former Inter player and play in his home country of Croatia.
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He said: “I think we need to be fast with away tickets because the family of Mateo Kovacic is buying all that we have because it is in Austria, Croatia and his former city when he played for Inter and we are playing AC.
“I think he is buying all the tickets that are available so this is where the focus is for our players to get tickets for family and friends!"
The German has now revealed which tie he is most excited by, and it is no surprise that he has picked the luxury fixture of the group, with Chelsea facing AC Milan.
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He revealed: "AC Milan is a fantastic tie because AC Milan is football history by itself by the icons on the bench.
"I know the Dutch players, and of course Carlo Ancelotti I know as a player and coach. One of the biggest clubs.
“I have never played there, never played against them.
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"I will enjoy it.
"We know Italian teams, Italian champions especially, bring out their very best game on these kind of occasions.
"Will be a tough one.
"We always have the ambition to go through and make it to the knockout, we will have to prepare carefully."
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Chelsea will be hopeful of doing better than last season, a quarter-final loss to eventual champions Real Madrid.
Topics: Chelsea, AC Milan, Thomas Tuchel, Football, Champions League
Nick Emms