UCL: Chelsea Captain James Acknowledges Tough Challenge Against Bayern Munich

Chelsea captain Reece James believes the team can dare to dream big.

The Blues are back among Europe’s elite after two seasons away from the competition, during which they claimed the Conference League and the Club World Cup.

Chelsea will face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, where they won their maiden Champions League title in 2012, in the first match of the 2025-26 league phase on Wednesday.

Speaking with the club’s website, the England international remarked on the difficulty of facing Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. “The Champions League is where the club belongs,” James stated.

“We’re pleased to be back playing against the best teams and competing in the top competitions, as we haven’t participated in this one for the last two seasons. Captaining Chelsea was always a dream of mine, especially in the Champions League. Having been here for a while and witnessing the changes and how we’ve had to adapt, we’re in a good position.

“We finished last season strongly, and I hope this season we can build on that. I don’t focus on what others say; we can achieve anything as long as we understand and believe. We know we can go far with the team we have. That’s what matters.”

On the challenge posed by Bayern, James added: “They are always super strong. They are a European giant, having won the competition before and knowing what it takes. It will be a very tough game.”