Jamie O’Hara predicts Tottenham to go further than Chelsea in Champions League

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Jamie O’Hara has told TalkSPORT Edge that Tottenham will go further in this season’s Champions League than Chelsea – claiming Spurs could reach the semi-finals under Antonio Conte, while Chelsea will be knockout in the quarter-finals.

Chelsea begin their Champions League campaign at the earlier time of 5.45PM on Tuesday night. The are in Croatia to take on Dinamo Zagreb. The Blues have got a good draw, also facing RedBull Salzburg and Italian champions Milan.

But Chelsea will look at Tottenham’s Champions League group with some envy – as will most teams. Spurs take on French side Marseille in London on Wednesday night, before games against Eintracht Frankfurt and Sporting Lisbon.

O’Hara was asked to give his predictions of the British teams that have qualified for the European group stages. He thinks Chelsea will reach the quarter-finals of the competition, while Tottenham could go as far as the last four.

“I’m trying to think what [Jason] Cundy would say, but he just talks nonsense,” O’Hara said, on Chelsea. “He’ll say they’ll win the Champions League. I think they’ll be knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

On Tottenham, he said: “Conte’s record in Europe isn’t great, that is the one thing I’m worried about. Our group is easy, I think we’ll top the group and get to the semi-final. But then we’ll face one of the big heads and get knocked out.”

O’Hara: Tottenham will go further than Chelsea in Champions League

Tottenham certainly have an easier group than Chelsea. With the way Thomas Tuchel’s side are playing at the moment, they may find Milan stiff competition when it comes to topping the group. But they should qualify with some ease.

Spurs will be disappointed if they do not top their group. That will allow Spurs to face an easier opponent in the first knockout round. But from then on in, it is a free for all. Spurs, arguably, have better depth and can rotate better.

But Chelsea, of course, have better pedigree in the Champions League. The two sides are well-matched, proven by the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. It could be a similar level of progression for Conte and Tuchel, in the Champions League.