How can Chelsea secure Champions League qualification?
If I was asked to use a single metaphor to describe Chelsea’s season thus far, a rollercoaster ride comes to mind. The Blues have played in more than 60 games across six competitions since the campaign kicked off with a win in the UEFA Super League over Villarreal. Tack on the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stress of government sanctions, the uncertainty of a club takeover and injury issues, and you’ve got the makings of an eventful campaign. It hasn’t always been easy, but Thomas Tuchel and his staff have managed to add two—potentially three—new pieces to the trophy case and reach two domestic finals.
These stories have dominated headlines after a relatively uneventful offseason last summer. The expectations placed on the Blues were high heading into the campaign. Although they haven’t won everything they set out to achieve, they have still managed to string together a wildly successful season all things considered. As the campaign draws to a close, there are just a few more goals that need to be met. Chelsea is preparing to take on Liverpool in the FA Cup final, but it could check another box by the time it takes the pitch on Saturday. The Blues could wake up on Friday morning having secured a place in next season’s Champions League competition.
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Chelsea can secure Champions League qualification as early as Thursday
Chelsea’s win over Leeds on Wednesday evening helped to get the team back on the right track. The Blues have sat comfortably in third since Manchester City and Liverpool leapfrogged them back in the winter. They’ve been out of the sights of fellow top four competitors in Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham. However, horrendous recent form that included dropped points against Brentford, the Gunners, Everton and Wolves has seen Chelsea slip up. The aforementioned Champions League qualifying competitors are now in the Blues’ rearview mirror, although only the former two—their bitter London rivals—are a threat to pass them up.
The Chelsea faithful began counting points and analyzing schedules again as it seemed this was going to be another painful crawl to the finish line. Alas, Tuchel’s men rose to the occasion at Elland Road and came away from a hostile environment with all three points. This victory virtually confirms their place inside the top four—seeing as they need two points from their remaining home games against Leicester City and Watford—but they’re not yet mathematically guaranteed a spot in the prestigious Premier League places.
As mentioned earlier, however, they can lock up a finish no worse than fourth on Thursday. The Blues aren’t taking the pitch again until Saturday in the FA Cup (next Thursday in the Premier League), so this means they’ll have to rely on other teams to do the dirty work for them in the meantime. Step up to the plate, Mikel Arteta and the Gunners. All eyes shift to Thursday’s North London Derby between Arsenal and Spurs—the only two teams capable of catching Chelsea at this point in the season.
The Blues were generous to the Gunners a few weeks ago as they handed them three points at Stamford Bridge. This has Arsenal in the driver’s seat over its biggest rival heading into Thursday’s derby. Chelsea fans need to hope for any positive result for the Gunners, as painful as it is to say. Anything less than three points for Tottenham and Harry Kane and Co. will spend next season in the UEFA Europa League once again. Meanwhile, the reigning Champions of Europe will get a crack at reclaiming their crown in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
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Do you think the Blues will secure top four on Thursday or will they be forced to wait? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!