Key Takeaways
- Liam Rosenior says he cannot predict how failure to reach the Champions League will shape Chelsea’s future.
- Chelsea are four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth after a 1-0 home loss to Manchester United.
- Cole Palmer insists he wants to stay but admits top-four football helps attract new signings.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has confessed he has no clear picture of what missing next season’s Champions League would mean for the club.
The Blues slipped further from the top five on Saturday when a late goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge. The defeat leaves Chelsea ten points behind United and four behind Liverpool, who still have a game in hand.
After the match Rosenior was asked if the club’s budget, transfers or key players might be affected should Chelsea finish outside the European places. “The honest answer is I don’t know,” he told reporters. “We will deal with every scenario when the season ends. Right now we keep fighting.”
Star forward Cole Palmer, speaking before the United game, said he has “no plans” to quit west London. Yet the England international admitted that competing among Europe’s best “makes it easier to bring in the quality we need”. Palmer also revealed he and captain Reece James have already discussed targets with the board, pointing to James’ new six-year deal as proof of faith in the project.
Chelsea have scored once in their last seven league outings and have lost four straight matches, their worst scoreless run since 1912. With only five fixtures left, they likely need snookers to pass both Liverpool and Aston Villa.
Rosenior, however, refuses to surrender. “The mountain is big, but it is not impossible,” he said. “We must win at Brighton next and build momentum for the FA Cup semi-final and beyond.”