With two months to go of the season, BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg are arguably more likely to qualify for the Champions League than Chelsea. For the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership's effective sister club, it would be some achievement.
There are major questions over what this would mean for Chelsea and their own participation should Enzo Maresca secure a top five finish this season. They currently sit fourth.
Strasbourg, on the other hand, are the team still looking up the table. They are fifth in the French top division after beating fellow Champions League chasers Lyon 4-2 on Friday night. It is Liam Rosenior's fourth win in a row.
The positive run extends to six unbeaten and just one loss in the league since the start of December. Only Paris Saint-Germain have taken more points in this time and they are the runaway leaders.
Rosenior's side are the youngest in Europe by a distance with only Chelsea, Parma and PSG anywhere near them. Having been in a battle to avoid relegation for most of last season under Patrick Vieira, the decision to part ways on the eve of this campaign, turning to Rosenior, has proven the right call.
Strasbourg are just one point away from Monaco in third, albeit having played a game more. Lille, currently seventh, could push them down with a win in their next match but would only go one ahead. Marseille are three above Strasbourg in second and can stretch that to six points but have lost their last two under Roberto De Zerbi and only have one win in three.
It leaves Strasbourg as one of the form teams not only in France but in wider Europe. When asked about the aims between now and the end of May, Rosenior did not shy away from embracing the challenge.
"My focus is on getting us into Europe," he said. "You're in football to dream. I never want to limit my players' dreams. I'm not being arrogant, but with eight games to play? Of course it's possible. I want my players to dream. I want them to believe they can win in every game they play.
"We're in a position that I don't think many people would have believed that we would be in even now. So what we have to do is enjoy it. There's no pressure on us.
"We have to go and play like we've been playing, play to win every game. And I think if we do that, and to the level that I expect us to play at, that we could have a really, really exciting end of the season. We might fall short. But it's been a really successful season in terms of embedding the long-term identity of the club."
BlueCo are yet to have one of their teams qualify for the Champions League since the Clearlake-Boehly consortium took over Chelsea. Maresca has mounted a stronger attempt this season than Mauricio Pochettino managed in his only year in charge but Chelsea have been trending downwards for performances and results throughout 2025.
They are now in a battle with at least five, if not six teams to land the final two spots. Nottingham Forest look well placed in third and have a seven-point buffer over Newcastle United in sixth, although Eddie Howe's side have a game in hand and will be buoyed by winning the Carabao Cup.
Bournemouth have dropped off but are only four points away from Manchester City. Brighton are two back from Chelsea and are unbeaten in five.
Chelsea could reasonably finish anywhere from third to 10th, still. Their end-of-season run is tough, as well, with Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester United still to visit Stamford Bridge. Spurs and United both have eyes on the Europa League and are looking increasingly unlikely to get into the top half, but they are never simple opponents.
Newcastle and Forest both host Chelsea before the season is up, so do Brentford and Fulham. It is therefore feasible that Strasbourg could be in the Champions League whilst Chelsea sit out.
The UEFA Champions League trophy pictured in Milan this week
The UEFA Champions League trophy pictured in Milan this week (Image: Getty Images)
Both teams also have the Europa League and Conference League as backup, although Chelsea will not see it as that. They can get into the Europa League by winning the Conference League, as they are expected to do this season, but that will be of little consolation if they fail to qualify via a top-five finish. An additional place is almost certain to be given to English teams this season due to the UEFA coefficient rankings.
There are, however, questions over how both clubs could play in UEFA competitions at the same time with common ownership. The answer is that rules have been relaxed.
Last year UEFA changed its regulations. Previously there had been a block on two clubs under the same control from competing, even in different competitions. Under those rules, qualified teams would be replaced by the next team from their league.
The shift in rules last year to accommodate for increasing levels of multi-club ownership now states that two clubs can compete in Europe in the same season, although this has been so far carried out on a case-by-case basis. In a statement made last year when allowing Manchester City and Girona to both play in the Champions League despite the Spanish side being under the City Football Group umbrella, UEFA explained their reasoning, which could be prominent for Chelsea.
It was described that "no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition."
Bans on transfers between clubs under the same control are also enforced, as is the sharing of scouting data. This is now allowed because UEFA altered the language used in legislation in 2017 following Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig both qualifying for the Champions League.
The statement from above continued: "More specifically, the significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs, substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power over more than one club, ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule during the 2024/25 season.
"In particular, the concerned investors have transferred their shares in Girona FC and OGC Nice to independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber."
Instead of simply 'control' being the main factor, 'decisive influence' is what is being monitored. For Chelsea, should Strasbourg end up in the same competition, it would leave a dilemma for BlueCo as they would potentially need to drop their stakes or also transfer them.
A possible loophole around this is the staff employed at each club. If there is enough difference then BlueCo could get around the rules. Strasbourg current has its own board and president, which may well go in their favour.
UEFA's rules concluded that: "The effective control and decision-making of these clubs rest solely under control of the trustee; following the resignation of its board members, the investor is no longer represented on the board of directors and has no capacity to directly appoint new directors to the board; the trustee appointed the new directors to the board;
"The investors have no ability to influence sporting related decisions; the investors have no ability to influence the club through veto rights or contractual arrangements entered into with other shareholders; the investors are restricted in their ability to provide subsequent financing; the club’s financial statements will be deconsolidated from the investors’ holding company."
Brighton were in the Europa League with Union Saint-Gilloise. Aston Villa and Vitoria SC were also allowed in the same competition last year as well. Manchester United and Nice resolved their own conflicts of interest with the Ineos-Sir Jim Ratcliffe ownership group, as mentioned.
For Chelsea and BlueCo it would certainly be a nice problem to have. Two teams competing in the Champions League would be a sure sign of progress after three years of discontent across both clubs. UEFA have now made the dream a reality. The next step is for Chelsea to keep up with Strasbourg's form and to make it happen.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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