Pat Nevin believes Chelsea FC’s experience of finishing in the top four could help the defending champions pip Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League spot.
Antonio Conte’s men suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon after Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard overturned Willian’s opener.
The Blues dropped down to fifth place in the Premier League table and four points adrift of Liverpool FC in the race to secure a top-four spot.
Chelsea FC are two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in a bid to finish in the Champions League spots for the second successive seasons after their title success last term.
The west London side will take on runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in their next top-flight fixture at The Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Former Chelsea FC winger Nevin is optimistic that the Blues’ superior experience of finishing in the Premier League’s top four throughout the Roman Abramovich era.
“Now there is a battle on until the end of the season, but I am not too downhearted because if the team plays the way it has over the past few games, then I suspect we will have a great chance of getting there,” Nevin told Chelsea FC’s website.
“It is still three from five at the top of the Premier League for the Champions league places; I think we accept that Man City might just get one of those top-four positions now!
“I will give Arsenal the benefit of the doubt in being in the chase but it is a long shot for them.
“So either United, Liverpool, Spurs or Chelsea will miss out with the obvious caveat about the possibility of one of us winning the Champions League and getting in that way.
Pat Nevin predicts where Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC will finish this season
The Chelsea FC legend examines the Premier League's competitive race to finish in the top four this season
Pat Nevin believes Chelsea FC’s experience of finishing in the top four could help the defending champions pip Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League spot.
Antonio Conte’s men suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon after Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard overturned Willian’s opener.
The Blues dropped down to fifth place in the Premier League table and four points adrift of Liverpool FC in the race to secure a top-four spot.
Chelsea FC are two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in a bid to finish in the Champions League spots for the second successive seasons after their title success last term.
The west London side will take on runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in their next top-flight fixture at The Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Former Chelsea FC winger Nevin is optimistic that the Blues’ superior experience of finishing in the Premier League’s top four throughout the Roman Abramovich era.
“Now there is a battle on until the end of the season, but I am not too downhearted because if the team plays the way it has over the past few games, then I suspect we will have a great chance of getting there,” Nevin told Chelsea FC’s website.
“It is still three from five at the top of the Premier League for the Champions league places; I think we accept that Man City might just get one of those top-four positions now!
“I will give Arsenal the benefit of the doubt in being in the chase but it is a long shot for them.
“So either United, Liverpool, Spurs or Chelsea will miss out with the obvious caveat about the possibility of one of us winning the Champions League and getting in that way.
“Right at this moment I think all four teams are improving in their form and though six points seems a big spread, it isn’t when you consider Chelsea’s dropped points against Bournemouth and Watford which I mentioned above, and we aren’t the only ones.
“I was at Man United’s capitulation against Newcastle the other week and Spurs have won four of their past nine games. One of them was against Newport County in a replay and at the weekend it took a last-gasp winner at Palace to get the three points, so nothing is settled yet.
“It is going to be a monumental run-in, but Chelsea now have to go on a run, hopefully starting with something, even a point against Man City at the weekend.
“After that it might come down to who has the nerve and who has the deepest squad. This could be where Liverpool, and to some extent Spurs, might struggle as the Champions League games start to take their toll.”
Chelsea FC won the Premier League title with two games to spare last term after the Blues ended up seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Conte’s side played out a 1-1 draw with La Liga giants Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash at Stamford Bridge last week.
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