The 2024/2025 season is now approaching its final stretch, and Chelsea has found itself in a position where Champion League’s football is a real possibility for next season. With the team currently sitting in 5th position in the EPL, it is within touching distance of reaching the elite European competition. That being said, the Blues are facing stiff competition from several other clubs, and a top 4, or even 5, finish is by no means a guarantee. As you read on, we’ll be weighing up the club’s chances and seeing just how realistic an appearance in the Champions League really is.
Chelsea’s Current League Standing
As of late February, Chelsea are sitting 5th in EPL table, with Bournemouth just ahead. It’s the top 4 teams that see automatic qualification for the Champions League, but it’s more than possible that England could well receive an extra qualifying spot thanks to the new UEFA coefficient system.
This means that, even if Chelsea remain in 5th place, they could well qualify. However, this depends on how well English clubs perform in this season’s tournament. The countries that perform the best have the opportunity to bring in extra teams, and right now it’s English clubs that are leading the way.
Fan Engagement is Keeping the Dream Alive
For fans of Chelsea, the race for Champions League football is exciting, but nerve wracking at the same time. Supporters are finding their own ways of keeping the excitement going, such as:
- Watching the action at Stamford Bridge via streaming platforms
- Playing fantasy football to keep track of the performance of their favourite players
- Betting and online gaming with many fans turning to platforms like bitcasino.io to wager
Football and online betting have long been closely linked and those who believe in their club will be sure to wager on Chelsea’s success.
Who Are Chelsea’s Rivals for Qualification?
It’s fair to say that the battle for Champions League Football is more competitive than it has ever been. While Chelsea are looking to qualify, they are up against some of the best clubs in Europe. Here’s a look at just some of their rivals:
- Liverpool: Currently sitting comfortably at the top of the table and almost guaranteed to be EPL champions and qualify for the Champions League.
- Arsenal and Man City: Despite a bumpy start for the latter, these two clubs both seem destined for a top 4 finish.
- Bournemouth: A surprise to most fans, the club currently sits in 4th.
- Tottenham: Desperate to qualify but inconsistency is making this unlikely.
Chelsea may well be able to take advantage of the 5th place rule but, if not, they will need to jump past Bournemouth to be sure of Champions League action.
Recent Performances
The best way of describing Chelsea’s season to date is up and down. There have undoubtedly been moments of brilliance but there have also been some spectacular setbacks. Some key performances include:
- A 4-2 win against Brighton where they displayed complete attacking dominance.
- 4-3 win against Tottenham proved that the team has resilience.
- 1-2 loss to Fulham that dented top 4 hopes.
- 0-2 loss to Ipswich that raised massive concerns about consistency.
There are still important fixtures to come, against the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle so Chelsea are going to need to up their game to push for that top 4 finish.
Can Chelsea’s Attack Deliver?
Perhaps Chelsea’s biggest strength this season has been its attacking power. This is thanks to the likes of Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson all stepping up. This has led to the team being able to score freely during matches and their attack ranks among the top 6 in the league when looking at the number of goals scored.
However, while the attack is looking good, defensive inconsistencies have plagued the team. Even with the signings of Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill, the team is still struggling, and seems to concede in the most crucial moments. There’s no doubt that the experience of Thiago Silva has helped, but this hasn’t been enough to prevent individual errors and huge lapses of concentration. If the team wants to qualify, there’s a need to address these issues in defence.
Final Verdict: Will Chelsea Qualify?
There’s no doubt that Chelsea’s hopes are alive and kicking, but to be sure of qualification there is a real need to tighten up their defence. While qualification is possible with a top 5 finish, this leaves the club’s destiny in the hands of other teams and how they continue to perform in Europe.
The season doesn’t have much further to go and Chelsea fans will be left with an anxious wait. However, with what we’ve seen so far, it’s highly likely that Chelsea will find themselves in the Champions League for the 2025/2026 season.
