Chelsea’s destiny in the Champions League will lie in their last Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground today. A win will have them back in Europe’s top flight, while a draw or defeat will have their qualification rely on other outcomes.
Now standing fifth with 66 points, the Blues must win to guarantee qualification. A draw will be sufficient only if Aston Villa fail to beat Manchester United or Newcastle United lose to Everton. If they are defeated, their hopes would be severely cut short, with both Aston Villa having to lose and Newcastle losing comprehensively.
Manager Enzo Maresca stressed how important the match was, saying in his press conference:
“We are quite lucky. If we win, we do our job, we don’t need to pay attention to other results. If we are not winning, we have to pay attention. We have the privilege that it depends on us. (The players) know – they are aware that it’s an important game. The most important one.”
The Blues’ recent record features large wins against Liverpool and Manchester United but they have been patchy on the road, winning just once in 2025. Nottingham Forest, another point behind, have the same Champions League hopes. They need to win and hope that results elsewhere go their way.
The game not only decides Chelsea’s fate in Europe but also acts as preparation for their next UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis. Maresca has complained about the timing, stating that Betis would have enjoyed more time off ahead of the final.
Betis have already played their final La Liga match – a 1-1 draw against Valencia on May 23. After Chelsea’s Premier League season, the club hopes to get into the top five and back to the top, where Europe’s strongest clubs operate.
Nuno Espirito Santo Requires Attention as Forest Set for Chelsea Encounter
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is urging his side to remain concentrated ahead of their crucial Premier League season finale against Chelsea. He was keen on focusing on their job, as he said:
“In a game like this, with motivation you just don’t have to worry about that. It is already there. Players are on fire to play the game so the message is to stick to the task. Recognise it is a tough team to play against and enjoy and play the game like we always do.”
The manager also pointed towards home advantage, confident that City Ground would have them back:
“The City Ground will help us. They have been doing so since the start of the season and last season, helping us a lot.”