Liam Rosenior admits he does not know what the consequences will be for Chelsea if they fail to reach the Champions League this season.
Chelsea slipped further away from the top-five race after a 1-0 home defeat by Manchester United, leaving them 10 points behind United and four adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool, who still have the Merseyside derby against Everton to play.
Forward Cole Palmer told reporters before the match he had no plans to leave Stamford Bridge and stressed that Champions League qualification helps the club attract the players they need. Rosenior, though, acknowledged missing out this season could influence both incoming and outgoing transfers and said the club will address the issue once the campaign concludes.
“The honest answer is I don’t know,” Rosenior said after the game. “We’re still fighting and we will address that situation at the end of the season, whatever the situation is.”
Palmer, speaking to The Guardian, downplayed speculation over his future and reiterated the importance of European qualification for Chelsea’s recruitment and long-term ambitions. He added that talks with the owners and the board — and the willingness of teammates such as Reece James to sign long-term deals — were linked to clarity over the club’s direction.
With only five Premier League games left, Chelsea face a demanding run-in. They will need rivals such as Liverpool and Aston Villa to slip if they are to climb back into the Champions League positions, while teams below them, including Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton and Everton, are also pressuring for places and raising the risk of dropping further down the table.
Form has been a particular worry: Chelsea have failed to score in their last four league matches — their worst goalless run since 1912 — and must revive their attack quickly if they are to mount any late challenge.
Rosenior insisted qualification is still possible despite the uphill task. “It gives us a mountain to climb,” he said. “It’s not insurmountable. We have to go into Brighton with an idea that we have to win that game and kick-start the rest of our season.”
The club also have the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds as a chance to salvage the season and keep hopes of European football alive for next term.