Chelsea hammered Qarabag in their Champions League opener. (AP Photo)

Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea will go the further in the Champions League out of all of the English teams in Europe.

Antonio Conte’s side have got off to a flyer in Group C as they thumped Qarabag 6-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.

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The Premier League champions now face trickier tests against Atletico Madrid and Roma, but Ferdinand feels Conte’s tactical nous will be an advantage against European opposition.

‘They are a very well balanced team,’ the former Manchester United defender told BT Sport.


Antonio Conte’s tactical nous will be key in Europe, says Ferdinand. (EPA)

‘The manager works hard and from what you hear from within the camp, he drills them daily on tactics and they have an understanding of each other as individuals and as a team.



‘In that sense, they are our best hope, as an English team.

‘With the other teams, you can see deficiencies. Man United, defensively, could come unstuck against the top teams. Man City, the same.

‘Attacking, they’re both fantastic, but Chelsea are very well-rounded.’

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