Paris Saint-Germain defender Alex on Thursday said the big-spending club is one of the five best in Europe and have a chance to win the Champions League because of their close-season signings.
"I think that we're in the top five in Europe," the 30-year-old Brazilian said. "Everyone knows that Barcelona is the best team. But we're in the top five. We've got a chance of winning the Champions League.
"It's up to us, how players who have just arrived adapt. We've got a good group of players," he told AFP in an interview.
Alex noted with a smile that his former club Chelsea won European football's premier club trophy last season and believed that PSG are at least equal, "if not better" in talent than the west London side.
"During my first two seasons at Chelsea (2007-2009), the team was very strong and now our team at PSG is at the same level."
PSG finished second in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2004. The draw for the group stage will be made on August 30.
The Paris club brought in Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan for 20 million euros ($24.5 million, £15.7 million) last month.
They also signed Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, also from AC Milan, Argentine attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli and young Italian midfielder Marco Verratti from Pescara.