For the first time in a long time, Chelsea conceded their own Champions League fate to other clubs around them. If they qualify for Champions League football this season now, it will be down to the clubs above them dropping points. It is no longer in our hands.
Chelsea are currently in 6th place with 6 games to go, and as it stands, this would see us miss out on the Champions League next season.
We are only above 7th placed Aston Villa on goal difference, and even Fulham could go level on points with us if they win their game in hand and then beat us on Sunday.
Things are looking much bleaker now after the latest round of games, and Chelsea will need lady luck to qualify for the Champions League, which is so very poor on our part after being where we were just before Christmas.
After Fulham, we face in an form Everton side with nothing to play for other than pride, pending league champions Liverpool, away to the very impressive Newcastle, home to a shockingly bad Manchester United team that we just have to beat, then away to Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season which could go any way.
It’s not looking good.
I like to sometimes be glass half full though so I will say that also, it’s more than doable. We can still get Champions League this season and with how inconsistent teams like City, Forest, Villa, and Fulham have all been this season, there is every chance that a couple of them will drop more points too in the run in. So Chelsea have every chance to capitalise on that and still make the UCL. We could easily put it back in our hands.
Reality tells me different and I have very little confidence now that we can do it. But it is still more than possible.
Who is to blame for our fall off since Christmas? Enzo Maresca is. The players are. The Sporting Directors are. The owners are. They are ALL collectively to blame.
The squad build has been our biggest downfall and our biggest issue though, and I will maintain that throughout. It’s been naive, it’s lacked balance, it’s lacked key positions, it’s lacked physicality, it’s lacked quality experience, it’s lacked mentality monsters, it’s lacked leaders, and it’s lacked proven quality for the here and now.
THAT has been our biggest issue and if we miss out on UCL, that will be why. It will also be a disaster for many reasons.
However, it CAN still be done. So until the fat lady sings, let’s keep the faith.
