Chelsea are dark horses that no team will want in Champions League draw - Tony Cascarino

CHELSEA are a fearsome prospect for Champions League group winners in the draw for the next round.

Saul Niguez and Tiemoue Bakayoko GETTY

Tony Cascarino believes Chelsea will be feared in Monday's Champions League draw

That's the view of former Ireland international striker Tony Cascarino who scored over 250 goals in his career.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he also voiced his opinion that he would not be surprised to see a Premier League club win this year's Champions League.

Cascarino expects other teams will hope to avoid Antonio Conte’s Premier League-winning side in Monday’s draw.

“Who would want to play against the calibre of managers at our leading clubs?" he said.

“The talent, manager-wise, is just extraordinary and Conte has done an unbelievable job considering he’s lost his main target-man in Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic.

“And they had Eden Hazard out for the early part of the season and didn’t quite hit the ground running.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GETTY

Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012

“Chelsea are a team that a lot of teams will fear and they can upset a lot of clubs around Europe”

Tony Cascarino

“But what a tune they’re getting out of him at the moment. Because Eden is playing as good as he did when he won the Player of the Year.

Chelsea are a team that a lot of teams will fear and they can upset a lot of clubs around Europe.”

The west London club were the last English side to win Europe's most prestigious club competition back in 2012.

And Cascarino is adamant that one of the five participating Premier League sides could be victorious in the final in Kiev next year.

Antonio Conte GETTY

Antonio Conte guided Chelsea to second place in their Champions League group

“I totally see a Premier League team winning the Champions League,” former Blues striker Cascarino added.

“I really think that one of them will turn up in the final and will handle themselves brilliantly.

“A lot of it is about how they’re playing today but by the time we get to February, can they show the same level of consistency?

“All of them have nearly won their groups. Liverpool have won their group too, that is a fantastic achievement."

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