The Premier League is returning in a matter of weeks, but Chelsea fans should proceed with caution.
The Premier League is returning June 17 with a majority of teams playing their first matches back on the weekend of June 20. The news of a restart brought obvious excitement, but Chelsea fans should feel other emotions, as well.
In addition to feeling giddy about English football’s return, Blues fans should be nervous. A Premier League return means the Blues are no longer guaranteed a top four spot.
As things stand, the Blues sit fourth on 48 points from 29 matches. They are three points above Manchester United and five up on Wolves and Sheffield United. It’s worth noting that Sheffield’s got a match in hand and in that game, the Blades take on Aston Villa, who currently sits in a relegation place. Finally, Tottenham represents the last real threat to a UCL spot for Chelsea. Spurs sit seven points back, but are getting a boost with the likely return of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
The path to finishing in the top four is not going to be an easy one. In their remaining nine fixtures, the Blues face off against Liverpool, Man City, Wolves and Sheffield. In order to finish in a Champions League place, fans have to hope for a more consistent Chelsea team than the one they saw pre-stoppage. In addition to those high-stakes matches, Chelsea has matches against four of the league’s bottom five teams. The only mid-table side remaining on the Blues’ schedule is Crystal Palace.
Securing a top four spot doesn’t only impact next season, it could change the direction of the club’s so-called rebuild. If Chelsea misses out on a Champions League place, it could deter big name transfers. One of the most important things to many stars today is playing on the biggest stage, hence why many dream of the Premier League. Transfer targets like Jadon Sancho, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz would likely be put off by the idea of playing in the Europa League. Therefore, if Chelsea wants to take a necessary step up and align themselves with clubs like Liverpool and Man City, the Blues need to finish in the top four.
Of course, the stoppage and subsequent restart isn’t all negative. The Blues have been given boosts on the injury front with Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and others returning to full fitness. A healthy squad will help establish consistency during the home stretch. An abundance of fit players will give Frank Lampard options he and his staff have not had throughout the season. It’s time for the second-year manager to lace up his boots—figuratively, not literally—and show the Premier League what the Blues are all about.
What do you think Chelsea’s chances of securing top four are? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!