Chelsea may not be involved in the Champions League this season, but supporters should still take a keen interest in it.
They should be paying particular attention to Premier League rivals Manchester City on Wednesday night and their game against Real Madrid.
City take on Real Madrid in the second leg of their play-off tie, looking to overturn a one-goal deficit.
Pep Guardiola’s men lost the first leg at the Etihad 3-2 despite taking the lead twice. It has not been a great season for the Citizens, but John Obi Mikel still thinks Enzo Maresca can learn from Guardiola and some things he has done this term.
Man City can help England to secure five Champions League spots
Chelsea will want to make a return to the Champions League next season, but right now, the Blues are sixth in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth.
However, a fifth-placed finish may be enough to get Chelsea back into Europe’s elite competition, with England on course to secure five Champions League spots.
As things stand, England are top of UEFA’s coefficient ranking system with a coefficient average of 20.892, and a City win against Real Madrid would put the country in an even stronger position.
Spain are second with 18.035, showing why this City and Real Madrid tie could be quite a significant one. Opta have predicted Chelsea to come fifth this season, so it looks like the Blues need City and their other Premier League rivals competing in Europe to get the job done.
Man City have chance to equal Chelsea’s Champions League record
The only downside of City progressing to the last 16 is that it would obviously give them the chance to go all the way and win the whole competition.
With Guardiola’s men pretty much out of the title race now, they are going to put everything into trying to win the Champions League trophy. And if City do that, then they will equal Chelsea’s record of two.
City already have more Premier League titles than the Blues — eight to five — and will now be aiming to surpass them in Europe.
