Chelsea

Ross Mooring
Fan writer

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With the race for Champions League football reaching the final few hurdles, we asked our fan contributors of five clubs involved to let us know if their team will make the top five and if not, what happens next...

Chelsea are going to make the top five because…

Of the belief generated by the 3-1 win over Liverpool. Arguably the last time the club beat another top team in the league was December's 3-0 victory at home to Aston Villa.

That match also featured a positive display from the returning Romeo Lavia, whose all-round game knitted the midfield together and allowed Enzo Fernandez to push higher up the pitch. The Argentina international scored remarkably similar goals in both matches.

The extra freedom this provides Cole Palmer could reignite Chelsea's attack and, allied with a recent improvement in defence, will hopefully see the Blues secure the two, if not three, results needed against Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

If Nicolas Jackson returns to form as well, suddenly everything will be smelling of roses.

But if they don't qualify, it will make for…

Uncomfortable news for everyone at the club - from the sporting directors down to the supporters.

Questions will be asked of the strategy of spending hundreds of millions on youthful prospects when just one or two more blue-chip talents would probably have seen Chelsea keep Liverpool under pressure at the top for longer.

Even a Conference League win will keep the spotlight on Enzo Maresca's performance as manager, after nearly four months of largely poor performances and results against lower opposition, as well as some eyebrow-raising news conferences, all of which has divided the fanbase.

With Liverpool rumoured to be interested in Palmer, no Champions League football could see the Blues lose the club's most talented player since Eden Hazard.

Everything really would be back to square one at Stamford Bridge then.

Find more from Ross Mooring at Chelsea Fancast, external

Here is what the other four contenders' fans thought about the race for Champions League football...

Man City will make the top five because "simply, we are one of the best teams in the country"

Newcastle will make the top five because "we have the number one striker in world football"

Nottingham Forest will make the top five because of a "more favourable" run-in

Aston Villa will make the top five because "we know exactly what we need to do"

On the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast, Kyle Walker talks about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's title, the race for the Champions League and dealing with injury at AC Milan.

Listen to the episode

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle (kick-off 12:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the importance of Sunday's match: "It's a big one, huge one. Manchester United will be a big one and Nottingham Forest will be a big one. We have three big games. Sunday is a chance, for sure, to start in a good way. We are on a good run, in a good mood so hopefully we can play a good game and win."

• He added: "Players need to focus on the Newcastle game because it is the next one. They need to be thinking that this is the last game of the season, give everything and then we will see at the end."

• The Chelsea boss has "no idea" how many points they will need to finish in the top five as it "depends on the other results", but the "focus is to try to win the three games we have".

• Maresca said the midday kick-off is "not an ideal situation" after playing late on Thursday, so they "need to adapt immediately and play the game in the best way".

• On if it is frustrating that they have not made Champions League qualification easier for themselves: "No, the frustration is we create enough chances to win the games and we didn't win, but now is not the time to think about that. Now is the time to win as much as we can in the last three games. In terms of data, xG, chances missed, I think it shows we could have more points but it is what it is and we have to win the next games we have."

• He feels his midfield is now set with the return of Romeo Lavia and added: "After the Liverpool game some of you asked me about repeating the same XI for both the Everton and Liverpool games after six months. It is important when you can keep continuing with the same players when fit. We have Moi [Caicedo], Enzo [Fernandez] is doing well and we have Romeo back. Cole [Palmer] is also doing well."

• On if Alexander Isak is Newcastle's biggest threat: "Isak is a top player but he is not the only one. They have top players and we need to work as a team to stop them as a team."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Chelsea reached the UEFA Conference League final having rested many of their Premier League regulars through the competition. Should Enzo Maresca stick with the players that have got them through or recall the likes of Cole Palmer to face Real Betis?

Chelsea supporter Charlie Patrick tells The Football News Show why manager Enzo Maresca should pick the best team to win the trophy rather than stand on sentiment.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

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We asked for your views on Chelsea's Conference League semi-final second leg win over Djurgarden.

Here are some of your comments:

Fossie: Not a great performance but a win is a win. With all the possession we had, we should be scoring more. However, it is good to see academy players being played, with six in the team at the end. The academy is proving its worth and we do not need to spend money to bring in more players. We will need a better performance in the final though.

James: Great chance to win this tournament and encouraging displays from the academy players for whom this will provide great experience. It would be a fairy tale if one of them netted in the final! I'm approaching it with cautious optimism.

Steve: The momentum is definitely going in the right direction. It was a controlled performance by Chelsea in a tie that was already won in Stockholm. In my opinion, it was a perfect night as we never used the bulk of our regular first-team players, who will be fresh for the important game on Sunday against Newcastle. Four games to go, win all four and it's Champions League football next season and another trophy in our cabinet.

Tom: Not the best performance, but it was a very young team, a lot of academy boys, so not too much to complain about. Bring on the final.

George: With the game virtually won in the first leg, it gave Enzo Maresca the opportunity to shine in the area that he is good at - blooding youngsters and then selling them at the end of the season. His management of the team in play was average.

Aston Villa do not want to lose £90m-rated England midfielder Morgan Rogers, who is attracting the interest of Chelsea, but the 22-year-old would be open to a move if the opportunity presented itself. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea also want to sign Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, with Newcastle among those showing interest in the 22-year-old. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to TNT Sports: "Very happy, the job is done tonight and now we have almost 20 days to prepare for this final and hopefully we can win this trophy.

On the 1-0 win tonight: "It's good overall, good performance with many young players. It is almost a second team. Very happy for the young boys and very happy to reach the final."

On Reggie Walsh: "How good is he? You can see that he is a good player. He is that kind of player that we like, very good. For sure he is young and he has many things to do and to grow. Very happy for him, very happy for his family and he has to enjoy this moment."

On the young players taking their moment: "It's important for them, it's important for us, it's important for the rest. We have three more Premier League games before the final, we can be focused on that and then hopefully we can win the title."

On the momentum Chelsea have created: "We are in a good mood, a good run of results but now we have another game in less than 72 hours so we have to focus on that. [Newcastle] is a huge game. We have three more games and they are all important."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea captain Reece James, speaking to TNT Sports: "We're happy. We're in another final but it is probably something we expected coming into the game and we expect to win the competition as well. Winning the trophy would be a huge achievement."

On having a run of games to get back to his best: "I'm enjoying it. I've spent a lot of time on the sidelines and this is probably the longest spell I have spent being healthy in two or three seasons, so I'm happy to be playing on a regular basis and helping the team where I can."

On whether the club is going in the right direction: "We are definitely moving in the right direction. We're knocking on the door for Champions League next season, the table is tight and I have no doubts. We had a good result against Liverpool and hopefully we can keep momentum going and finish the season strongly."

On academy players: "It's great to help the young players, they are amazing talents, that's why they are here and I help them where I can."

On Reggie Walsh: "I've seen him in training but training and games is different but this is the first time I have seen him play. I didn't realise how good he actually was."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Three English teams feature in Thursday's Europa League and Conference League semi-final second legs, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

Europa League

• Manchester United (3) v Athletic Bilbao (0) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Bodo/Glimt (1) v Tottenham (3) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Conference League

• Chelsea (4) v Djurgarden (1)

• Fiorentina (1) v Real Betis (2)

All kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

The pressure can be very, very high for a game like Newcastle and Chelsea this weekend.

It is that idea of it being a six-pointer - which is such a cliche thing - but it does matter at the end of the season because you know you are not going to play them again.

This is the moment to gain something or take away from the opponent. As a consequence, there is pressure on it.

The fans are aware of that. After this, they will only have two games left. So any sort of issues that come from losing this game, they know they will not really have the time to fix and will have to look elsewhere at results.

The teams being on the same amount of points right now just adds to that. So while there is pressure, it is more of an exciting pressure because you are playing for something really significant.

Both sides can still qualify for Champions League football but it is a great opportunity to get ahead of the other. With the quality they have, both teams will believe that if they finish this match in front, they will not be caught.

At this point of the season, results are definitive. Wherever clubs finish, they deserve to be there because they have been able to manage these moments and manage these big games.

Players going into this fixture know it will be tough because they are facing a team that is good as theirs with quality players and with difference-makers on the bench. They also know if they are playing away from home that the crowd is going to be hostile. Not just casually hostile, but ridiculously hostile, because they know how big the game is as well.

It is in the preparation. Both sides need to give themselves the best chance of playing as well as they can - individually and collectively - to get the win. Even though it is three points, it will feel bigger.

It is going to be pressure-packed, but it will be a great game of football because the players will play as if it is the last game they are ever going to play.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Chelsea have an interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick, 29, this summer. (Caught Offside), external

The Blues are also leading the race to sign Bournemouth and Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen, 20. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Chelsea won the first leg 4-1 in Sweden last week.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca reported no new injury problems while Marc Guiu is "very close to being back" but the Chelsea boss said his striker may benefit from more training sessions before returning.

• On player of the season Moises Caicedo: "He has done well since day one. He's working very hard. The way he behaves is a good example for his team-mates and for the younger players, even though he is very young."

• Maresca said it is "very important for different reasons" that Chelsea go on to take the Conference League title: "The main one is we want this club winning trophies. It's important personally, but it's more important for the club and the fans. Chelsea can become the first club to win all European competitions so that would be good for the club."

• Maresca was asked about the players in his squad who have not yet won a major prize and whether winning the Conference League will give them hunger for more trophies: "Day by day, you have to build the winning mentality. The competition we're in at the moment is the Conference League and we have to try to win this competition. Hopefully, in the future we can be in different competitions, but at the moment, the reality is the reality."

• On how Blues have dealt with being favourites to win the competition for much of the season: "When you join a competition or you're in a game where you're under pressure to win, it's not the same. You have to do the job and the most important thing is also to convince the players that there are no easy games. Any game can be tricky."

• He said experiences from the previous round when Chelsea won convincingly in Poland against Legia Warsaw but lost the return leg at Stamford Bridge will be handy: "That experience is hopefully going to help all of us. We will try to do our job tomorrow, play a good game, try to win again and continue to build momentum."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, PA Media

Chelsea take a 4-1 lead into Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge - but goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has said a spot in the final is not being taken for granted.

"It's full focus," he said. "We will take it as seriously as any other game. At the end of the day, it's the semi-final of a European competition and we want to be in the final.

"I don't think any of us think this is done yet. We have 90 minutes left to play, we're going to give it our all and we want to win this game as well."

Jorgensen was at Spanish club Villarreal when they won the 2021 Europa League and, although he was not in the squad for the final victory over Manchester United, it is an experience he has gained a lot from.

The 23-year-old added: "I saw a lot of things when we won that competition - also emotionally and how every player was so happy to win a trophy. [I thought] I want to be there one day and hopefully we can do it this year."

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea fans celebrated a rare win against the champions but this was far from a full-fat Liverpool side. In fact, they were a shadow of themselves in those first 65 minutes.

It was no surprise to see Liverpool in limp mode, in that they had little to play for and the entire first-choice midfield had been surgically removed pre-match by Arne Slot.

Is it harsh to suggest Chelsea are still a distance from being serious contenders when they won 3-1 against Liverpool Lite? The answer is still yes - the 22-point gap is the far more relevant statistic.

That said, the return to form of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke, alongside a brilliant display by Romeo Lavia, means they are coming into form at just the right time for the top five race down the home straight.

Even so, there will be a few new faces at the Bridge next season. There is always continuous change from owners Clearlake, so you never know what might happen. At the end of the weekend, the important thing is that the battle for the top five is closer than ever.

Chelsea visit another bogey club next week in Newcastle United, who are on the same points tally. I suspect Eddie Howe will not leave his entire midfield on the bench at St James' on Sunday, so this will be a much tougher ask for Maresca's men.

Whoever wins that one will almost certainly bag a Champions League berth.

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Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Cole Palmer was superb for Chelsea in Sunday's win over Liverpool, playing a part in the build-up of two goals and then scoring the third. He was the focus of much of the post-game discussion as he spoke to the TV cameras about his recent difficult spell and how he had coped with it.

But also vital in the victory was Romeo Lavia, whose problems have been a lot more severe and frustrating than Palmer's.

While the England international simply had a run without scoring, Lavia has had two full seasons of injury setbacks, which have prevented him playing. That is a far harder psychological battle to fight and it takes a strong character to come through.

It is a real sign of Enzo Maresca's faith in the Belgian that he puts the midfielder into his starting XI as soon as he is able. There is no need for him to prove his fitness and earn his place; as soon as he has the green light, Maresca restores him to the heart of his team.

It is easy to see why. After the win over Everton the week before, the coach praised Lavia's balance of attacking and defensive contributions, and on Sunday both sides of his game were in evidence.

He is excellent at winning the ball, keeping the ball, and using the ball. No matter what the state of the game or what his team need to do at that moment, he is capable of helping out to a very high level.

His presence in the team also allows Maresca to deploy Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in even more effective ways.

This win did not mean the race for the Champions League is over - Chelsea still need some huge results in their final three league games.

But with Lavia back and playing well, their chances have improved significantly

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external