Chelsea's Last-Chance Road Map to Champions League Glory Revealed

Chelsea still have a path to next season's Champions League, but it would require an extraordinary turnaround for the Blues after slipping all the way to 10th place in recent weeks.

If enough results break in their favor, Chelsea could climb as high as sixth. On the flip side, however, they could also drop as low as 14th, which is far more realistic given the current standings and would equal the club's worst-ever finish in the Premier League era.

Chelsea's draw with Liverpool on May 9 marked the first time the side had earned a Premier League point in more than two months, having suffered six consecutive defeats—just one point from a possible 21.

Remarkably, all hope—though rapidly diminishing—has not yet been extinguished.

Six Champions League Places for Premier League

There is a genuine possibility that the Premier League could send six clubs to the Champions League. Beyond the standard four spots, an additional place has been granted in the form of a European Performance Spot (EPS) in recognition of English clubs' success in UEFA competitions.

The sixth berth would be triggered if Aston Villa 'double qualify' by securing a top-four finish in the Premier League while also lifting the Europa League trophy—Unai Emery's side are favorites heading into Wednesday's clash with Freiburg. In that case, their league position would pass down to the next English club in line.

Currently, sixth place belongs to Bournemouth, for whom Champions League football was once an unthinkable dream. Now, provided Aston Villa triumph in Europe, the Cherries can secure that spot with as little as two points from their remaining fixtures against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea sit six points behind Bournemouth but hold a superior goal difference, meaning their only route past the Cherries is to win both remaining games against Tottenham Hotspur (17th) and Sunderland (ninth), while hoping Andoni Iraola's side drop points in both of their matches.

Yet Bournemouth aren't the only obstacle. Chelsea also need Brentford, currently in eighth, to fall to Liverpool. The EPS only transfers to the Premier League's sixth-placed team if Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, meaning Liverpool must leapfrog them into fourth—something that can only happen if Villa also lose to Manchester City the following weekend.

Brighton & Hove Albion present yet another hurdle. Even if all of the above falls into place, the Seagulls must fail to beat Manchester United for Chelsea's hopes to remain alive.

In total, seven Premier League results need to go Chelsea's way—including two of their own, plus one UEFA final. That's eight matches in all that must align perfectly.

As one Chelsea supporter account put it on X this week: "1% chance, 99% faith."

Sixth or 14th Still Possible for Chelsea

The cluster of teams in the mid-table is incredibly congested. Just two more Chelsea defeats, combined with Newcastle United, Everton and Fulham each picking up a point from their final games, and Leeds United winning, would be enough to condemn the Blues to a historically disappointing campaign.

This was a club that many tipped as an outside title contender back in November before everything unraveled.