Chelsea finished outside of the top four last season, which resulted in them missing out on qualification for the 2024/25 Champions League.
Despite coming sixth, Chelsea also failed to qualify for the Europa League after Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
It means Enzo Maresca‘s side will have to settle for Europa Conference League football in the new season.
Returning to the Champions League has to be Maresca’s ultimate aim, though, but that is not going to happen if Chelsea continue to play how they did against Celtic on Saturday.
Chelsea lost 4-1 and Maresca was not happy with the team’s defence, or was at least not happy with their defensive line.
Andy Townsend makes Chelsea top four prediction
Former Chelsea player Andy Townsend does not sound too optimistic about his old side’s chances of finishing in the top four.
In fact, Townsend even has doubts about Maresca’s men finishing in the top six.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Honestly, honestly, I think they are going to be very, very difficult to predict.
“Hand on heart, I don’t see them top four and I probably would see them maybe just outside the top six, maybe, just outside the top six.”
Brendan Rodgers is actually backing Maresca to do well at Chelsea, but some supporters will have concerns after watching that Celtic game, even if it was just a pre-season friendly.
Top six the bare minimum for Chelsea and Enzo Maresca
Chelsea have to finish in the top six in the upcoming season. Mauricio Pochettino got the Blues there, despite having to deal with an injury crisis throughout the previous one
Really, though, this is a Chelsea side that should be finishing in the top four. There is quality everywhere, with the team possessing two of the most expensive midfielders in the world in Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, for example.
It would be the Blues’ third season of failing to qualify for the Champions League if they miss out on the top four again in the 2024/25 campaign.
If that happens, you would imagine that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital will not be happy with Maresca.
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