Chelsea have a Champions League winner who has started just one game in the competition

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Chelsea are back in the Champions League after two years out of the competition.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays just got a whole lot more interesting as Chelsea return to replicate the success of 2020/21.

That historic trophy win was just over four years ago, but just one player in the squad to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday was part of that side: Reece James.

• READ MORE: Chelsea appear to make last-minute change to Champions League squad ahead of Bayern Munich clash

There is another Champions League medal-winner who is certain to feature, but it would be just his second ever start in the competition.

Cole Palmer has already won the Champions League with Man City

Before he became the face of Chelsea Football Club, Cole Palmer spent many seasons as a sporadic player for Pep Guardiola.

During that time, he made eight appearances for City in the Champions League, predominantly as a substitute.

But he did start one game in their 2022/23 campaign, the season in which the Manchester side hoisted the Big Ears.

READ MORE: Bayern Munich sporting director reveals how they plan to use Nicolas Jackson for Chelsea tie

Palmer likely won’t hold that trophy in the same regard as a potential one with Chelsea, but the experience of being involved in such a deep run can only serve to help Enzo Maresca’s inexperienced outfit.

This is a very different European campaign for Chelsea

The Conference League win of last season was a helpful boost in confidence for Maresca and Chelsea, and certainly something that aided their efforts at the Club World Cup.

But it will help little to prepare them for the upcoming Champions League run.

Maresca was able to utilise his squad to the fullest, often fielding an entirely different lineup to the one seen at the weekend.

That won’t be an option this season, and many of the players will be playing more often than they’ve ever experienced at the pro level. Chelsea need to ensure they strike a balance between the two competitions and avoid over-exerting players at risk of injury.

These are good problems to have, though, and problems a club of Chelsea’s stature should be dealing with each and every season.