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Can Chelsea still qualify for European football next season? How the Blues can finish strong in Premier League | Sporting News United Kingdom

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Can Chelsea still qualify for European football next season? How the Blues can finish strong in Premier League | Sporting News United Kingdom

The 2023/24 Premier League season has seen a series of ups and downs for Chelsea but Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful side are finishing with a flourish.

A dramatic 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest put the Blues level on point with sixth-placed Newcastle United. If Manchester City beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final, sixth position will mean qualification for the UEFA Europa League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men missed out on European football this season after they miserably finished 12th last year, their lowest finish since 1993/94.

The Sporting News takes a look at Chelsea’s most likely routes into Europe.

MORE: Will Cole Palmer win the Premier League Golden Boot this season?

Can Chelsea still qualify for European football next season?

Chelsea can still qualify for either the Europa League or Conference League next season.

A guaranteed route to the Europa League is pretty far-fetched. Pochettino’s side would have to win both of their remaining matches away to Brighton and at home to Bournemouth while hoping fifth-placed Tottenham lose to both title-chasing Manchester City and relegated Sheffield United.

The Blues would also have to better Newcastle’s results at Manchester United and Brentford. Even though that is unlikely to result in a fifth-placed finish it will be the main target for Chelsea over the final week before waiting to see what unfolds at Wembley in the FA Cup final on May 25.

If City win the FA Cup, sixth will be a Europa League place and seventh will be a path to the Conference League. A United win would mean seventh would not bring European qualification unless Erik ten Hag’s had lifted themselves above Newcastle and Chelsea beforehand to finish in the top six.

Chelsea are 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, meaning the Champions League is out of reach.

Premier League European qualifying spots to date

As of May 11, these are the English teams occupying the qualifying spots for European competitions in 2024/25.

Champions League: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa

Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur

Conference League: Newcastle United

English Premier League table 2023/24

Updated on Monday, May 13, 2024

Pos Team Points Matches
Played		 Goals
Scored		 Goal
Difference
1. Arsenal 86 37 89 +61
2. Manchester City 85 36 90 +58
3. Liverpool 79 37 84 +43
4. Aston Villa 68 37 76 +20
5. Tottenham Hotspur 63 36 71 +12
6. Newcastle United 57 36 79 +22
7. Chelsea 57 36 73 +12
8. Manchester United 54 35 52 -3
9. West Ham 52 37 59 -12
10. Brighton 48 36 54 -4
11. Bournemouth 48 37 53 -12
12. Crystal Palace 46 37 52 -6
13. Wolves 46 37 50 -13
14.  Fulham 44 37 51 -8
15. Everton* 40 37 39 -10
16. Brentford 39 37 54 -7
 17.  Nottingham Forest** 29 37 47 -19
18. Luton Town 26 37 50 -31
19. Burnley (R) 24 37 32 -36
20. Sheffield United (R) 16 37 35 -66

*Deducted 10 points for breach of profit and sustainability rules. Punishment was reduced to six points on appeal but were then deducted a further two points for another breach on April 8.

**Deducted four points for breach of profit and sustainability rules on Mar. 18.

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