Chelsea’s chances of Champions League qualification are dwindling, and Tim Sherwood has responded when asked if he thinks the Blues will be in next season’s competition.
Already this weekend, Chelsea have slipped into sixth position with Arne Slot’s Liverpool improving over the last few weeks. Liverpool secured a comfortable win over West Ham on Saturday to move into fifth.
Meanwhile, Man United have improved and already sit three ahead of Chelsea ahead of their clash against Crystal Palace. Aston Villa’s loss to Wolves was embarrassing, but they remain in third position.
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The Premier League is set to be awarded five places in next season’s Champions League instead of four, but even then, Chelsea are in for a tough battle. Tim Sherwood said if he thinks Chelsea will qualify.
Sherwood thinks Chelsea will finish in sixth, Lineker agrees
Later today, Rosenior can become the first English manager to win his first three Premier League away games. The previous manager to do so? Sherwood, who produced the feat at Tottenham in 2013-14.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Sherwood thinks Chelsea will finish in sixth place at the end of the season. He believes Chelsea’s inability to win ugly is hampering their chances of qualification.
Mikel Arteta and Liam Rosenior.
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
“No, I think they miss out. I think Villa will pick up, Man United are like a steam train at the moment and I think Liverpool will have enough. I think Chelsea will miss out,” Sherwood said when asked about Chelsea.
“The worry I have with Chelsea, is that they have to win pretty all the time – I’m not sure they have the characters and the know-how within their side to dig results out. Arsenal can do that, they find results.
“Chelsea seem to have to play well to win games and I don’t think they’re consistent enough with their performances,” the former Tottenham and Villa manager continued, predicting Chelsea to get sixth.
Sherwood is not the only pundit to predict sixth for Chelsea. Gary Lineker said the same: “If you pinned me against a wall and told me to pick a top five; Arsenal, City, Villa, Man United, Liverpool.”
Chelsea’s run of fixtures after Arsenal is concerning
The issue Chelsea have, after failing to pick up wins against Leeds and Burnley, is that the upcoming run of fixtures are daunting. The Blues take on Arsenal later today and the odds suggest they won’t win.
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Chelsea's next five PL games after Arsenal are daunting…
Aside from the FA Cup clash against Wrexham, and the upcoming Champions League matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea’s run in the Premier League over the next few weeks is make-or-break.
Both Manchester clubs, Aston Villa and Newcastle, as well as Everton, face the Blues. Rosenior needs to get another gear out of his side if Chelsea stand any chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
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