Chelsea are seemingly making headway in the Premier League after a poor run of results under their new manager Graham Potter. Can the Blues still make it to the Champions League?
Todd Boehly shocked fans and pundits alike when he showed Thomas Tuchel the exit door in September last year.
The ambitious American investor appointed former Brighton manager Graham Potter as the new Chelsea manager signaling the dawn of a new era at Stamford Bridge.
However, Graham Potter’s Chelsea spell has been far from expectations. The under-pressure gaffer suffered heavy backlash for the worst winless run in Chelsea’s Premier League history.
Under his watch, the Blues slumped below expectation and is far below Premier League rivals in the top-four race.
Can Chelsea make the Premier League top four?
After six consecutive winless run, which ended with an away defeat to Tottenham in the London Derby, Chelsea seemed to have picked form winning three straight matches including a Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Blues ended Dortmund’s unbeaten run in 2023 with a 2-0 win over the Bundesliga giants in Stamford Bridge. Graham Potter had ended his abysmal Premier League run with a 1-0 victory over Leeds before eliminating Borussia Dortmund from the Champions League.
After the Champions League victory, Graham Potter followed up the win with a convincing away win over Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
Considering all permutations, Chelsea’s top-four chances are still slim. They are currently 10th on the Premier League table with 37 points from 26 matches, 11 points from the fourth-placed team, Tottenham, who have 48 points from 27 games.
Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, and Brentford are separating the Blues from the top-four finish and could be way ahead of the Blues in the top-four race.
Liverpool and Newcastle are still regarded as strong contenders for the top-four while Brighton, Fulham, and Brentford could be ruled out of the race.
It is safe to say a tenth-placed team, 11 points adrift of the top-four finish is more likely to miss out on the Champions League race with 12 games remaining to the end of the season.
However, if the point gap could be jettisoned in the argument, the coarse texture of Chelsea’s last 12 games could be a huge factor.
Apart from London rivals Tottenham and Fulham, Chelsea faces all top four opponents above the club in the Premier League table, including the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Brighton, and Brentford.
Smashing all the big teams line up in their next fixtures can bring the club close to a top-four finish but that is more of a magical feat than a possibility under Graham Potter.
Chelsea’s only option for returning to the Champions League is winning the current campaign. As things stand, a route to the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League for the Blues through a top-four finish on the Premier League table is not possible.
Do you agree and why?
