Starting with the 2006-07 competition, there was a stretch of three successive Champions League campaigns where it could be argued that English clubs dominated the European tournament. Although a Premier League club only took the title once during that three-year span (Manchester United – 2008), English sides made up three of the four Champions League semi-finalists in successive seasons ending with the 2008-09 campaign.

Since that time, the Premier League only had one representative in Europe’s ‘Final Four’ during three of the five tournaments. Twice, in 2010 and 2013, English clubs were knocked out of the competition before the semi-finals – leaving the Premier League with no representatives.

Spain have consistently had two teams in the semi-finals during the past four Champions League campaigns with Germany fielding at least one team each year as well; Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund made it to the final four in 2012-13.

Chelsea have been England’s only semi-final representative in Europe during two of the past three seasons, and it appears this year Jose Mourinho’s men will be the Premier League’s only hope of Champions League glory, once again.

The Blues are currently on top of the Premier League and are leading their Champions League group after three matchweeks. Of the English sides in the competition, Chelsea were handed the ‘easiest’ of the draws and are the favorites to advance to the Round of 16 as group winners. They are also the pundits choice to take the Premier League title at the end of the season.

After downplaying the likelihood of his side winning the domestic title last year, Mourinho has stated that his squad is now ready to be champions. When asked about his squad’s chances of catching Arsenal and Manchester City in February 2014, the manager made the now-famous assessment: “Two horses and a little horse that still needs milk and to learn how to jump. A horse that next season can race.”

Well, Chelsea are leading the race early on and fans can expect Mourinho to continue ‘cracking the whip’ on his horse until they reach the finish line.

While the manager’s main focus will be on bringing the Premier League title back to London, Mourinho will undoubtedly continue to push his side towards Champions League success. There is too much quality and veteran leadership in his squad for them not to compete for silverware on the domestic and European fronts. And the Portuguese manager wants to place an English club alongside his previous Champions League winning teams in Portugal (FC Porto – 2004) and Italy (Inter Milan – 2010).

Of the four Premier League clubs playing in Europe, Chelsea have the strongest, most balanced and cohesive unit. They have one of the top goalkeepers in the world (Courtois), an organized and tested defensive unit (Ivanovic, Luis, Azpilicueta) with veteran leadership at both centre-back positions (Cahill and Terry), a formidable attack (Fabregas, Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Ramires, Schurrle, Costa, Remy, Drogba), steady defensive midfielding options (Matic and Mikel) and one of football’s all-time great managers.

The remaining English sides have noticeable deficiencies: Liverpool simply aren’t the same side since the departure of Luis Suarez and due to the recurring injuries of striker Daniel Sturridge; Brendan Rodgers’ side has also shown to be weak defensively. While Arsenal failed to improve their defensive options – which have been a concern for Arsene Wenger’s side over the past few seasons in Europe. Lastly, Manchester City have yet to show that they have the capacity to succeed against European competition. Manuel Pellegrini appears to have strength and balance within his squad, but the team have yet to show they can get over the mental obstacle of Champions League football.

Chelsea are currently the only Premier League club to be in control of their Champions League group. The Blues only lead Group G by two points over FC Schalke, but wins in their next two fixtures would secure passage into the Round of 16 as group winners – with a match in hand.

Arsenal have a chance to finish on top of Group D, but currently trail Borussia Dortmund by three points. Arsene Wenger’s men have home fixtures remaining (vs Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund), before an always tricky away match in Turkey against Galatasary. The North London club’s passage into the next round is doable, but it is by no means simple.

Manchester City are currently third in Group E, trailing leaders Bayern Munich by seven points and second place AS Roma by two. The Citizens only results to this point have been draws against Roma (home) and CSKA Moscow (away); in both matches Manchester City had an early lead before conceding the tying goal.

Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping that back-to-back home fixtures against CSKA Moscow and Bayern Munich will put his team in a favorable position before they travel to Rome on the last day of the group stages to face off against AS Roma. Should City’s fortunes rest on getting a result against Rudi Garcia’s side – which is currently second-place in Serie A – it would be a huge ask for the club which has been inconsistent (at best) over the past few seasons in Europe.

While Liverpool have been unconvincing in their first three Champions League matches; only able to take three points from Ludogorets at Anfield after a last minute penalty was award to Brendan Rodger’s side.

The Reds are currently third place on goal differential in Group B and are staring at the task of taking points from group leaders Real Madrid and Ludogorets on the road in successive matches.

The match against Bulgarians may not seem like a daunting task to outsiders, but Ludogorets have shown that they are more than a doormat for European clubs to walk over in the competition. The Bulgarian champions fought hard with Liverpool and Real Madrid until the dying seconds of each match, before beating Swiss champions FC Basel during the last matchweek.

Should Liverpool’s Champions League progression come down to the final week of the group stages against Basel at home, it will be a nervous ninety minutes at Anfield.

As it stands right now, three of the four Premier League clubs are in position to finish in second place in their Champions League groups. That would mean that they could be drawn against a major European side in the next round of the competition – something most clubs would prefer to have to deal with during the later stages of the tournament.

The chances of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool advancing past the Round of 16 would be slim to none.

That leaves Chelsea.

While the London club could still be drawn against a European power (Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, PSG and Juventus could possibly finish runners-up in their respective groups), Mourinho’s side is the most prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

Once again, Chelsea are the Premier League’s only hope for Champions League glory.