Chelsea could give up their potential Champions League spot next season due to a bizarre UEFA ruling.
The Blues are one course to finish fifth in the Premier League this season, with two huge games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to come before the end of the current campaign.
But Enzo Maresca's men are also in the final of the Conference League and will face Real Betis later this month, with the winner yielding an automatic spot in the UEFA Europa League.
You may like
How Chelsea could SNUB a place in the Champions League for next season
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke of Chelsea react during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Chelsea currently occupies fifth position in the Premier League table(Image credit: Getty Images)
It's been an up-and-down campaign for the Blues, who were at one point considered title contenders after a wonderful away win over Tottenham left them within touching distance of eventual winners Liverpool.
Despite their race for top spot eventually faltering, Maresca's side are into a European final and could even guarantee Champions League football before the kick a ball in the final against Betis, so why would they give it up?
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on February 25, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Chelsea's team is littered with talent and are favourites to win the Conference League(Image credit: Getty Images)
The theory states that if Chelsea finish fifth in the Premier League table this season, they will have to go through a qualifying round to reach the Champions League group stage for the 2025/26 campaign.
There's little reason to suspect Chelsea will not pick a place in Europe's biggest competition, but winning the Conference League means automatic qualification to the Europa League group stage. No questions asked.
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Failing to win their qualifying game in the Champions League does not mean they would fall into the Europa League, and therefore, they could still earn two spots into Europe this season and yet still, mathematically, not play any football in any European competition in 2025/26.
To add further potential misery, Ligue 1 side Strasbourg are on course to qualify for Europe too, with Liam Rosenior's side also owned by BlueCo.
Hull City Manager Liam Rosenior during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Hull City at the Stadium Of Light, Sunderland on Friday 7th April 2023.
Liam Rosenior is doing a sterling job in France with Strasbourg(Image credit: Getty Images)
As previously reported with Manchester United and Nice's situation, Strasbourg would be required to move into a 'blind' trust to remove any conflicts, or BlueCo could reduce their stake in one of the clubs to satisfy UEFA's rules.
For now, the Blues seem persistent in their aims to qualify for the Champions League and manager Maresca is backing his side to do so.
"Personally, the goal from Pedro (Neto) doesn't change my view of the season," said Maresca after the win over Fulham last month. "I said three or four days ago, and I will repeat, Chelsea in the last two years have never been in the Champions League spots and this season we spent all season there.
"So today's win doesn't change my view. It's already a good season and can become very good if we finish in the Champions League spots, no doubt.
"But for sure, today was an important win because first of all it's a derby, second, it gives us the chance to be there. And probably it was the most difficult win, and the reason why is because they (league rivals) all played yesterday."