Four teams are fighting for the remaining two Champions League places in the Premier League and every permutation is still possible. With two games left in the Premier League before it goes for its summer siesta any one of the potential contenders can claim a spot amongst Europe’s footballing elite next season.
With Spurs on 70 points, Chelsea on 68 points, Arsenal on 66 points and Man United on 65 points anything can happen. Let’s take a look at who is likely to make the grade come the final game of the season on 10 May.
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Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have stayed pretty much firmly rooted to third place since November, but a recent run of bad form could affect their chances of Champions League qualification. It’s crazy to think that the next four games could make or break their season.
Spurs still have two routes to the Champions League available. It’s either finish in the top four or go for glory and win the Champions League. But with more games comes added pressure, and Mauricio Pochettino currently has the most threadbare squad out of every team in contention.
After losing seven games in the league already since the New Year, Spurs are without a doubt resting on their laurels, as well as their direct competitor’s bad form. Fatigue and pressure in the Champions League are taking their toll.
With remaining fixtures against a tricky Bournemouth side and a final day match up against a resurgent Everton the Lilywhites they’ll have to throw caution to the wind to get the job done.
Chelsea
Maurizio Sarri is just about keeping the Blues on an even keel as of late. Only losing out to Liverpool in their last six, and securing a well earned draw at Old Trafford at the weekend has sent Chelsea back into the fourth spot.
They still have to face Watford at home and travel to Leicester on the final day of the season, in what represents two tricky fixtures against gutsy sides. The catch? They still have two semi final matches against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League to take care of.
The Chelsea manager will have to be careful how he takes care of this balancing act or they could leave the party with nothing to show for it. As it stands, taking maximum points in the
Premier League will see them qualify for the Champions League and save Sarri’s season.
Arsenal
Cast your gaze back a month and you would’ve backed Arsenal to finish in the fourth spot fairly confidently. How quickly times change though, and after losing four of their last five league games, April has been a truly miserable month for the Gunners.
When you put their form and their performances in the league next to what they’ve been doing in the Europa League as of late you’d rather back in the latter to qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Putting all your eggs in the Europa League basket represents a serious gamble. Though as it stands, two remaining fixtures against Brighton, as well as a Burnley side who have held Chelsea and Man United as of late is a tough task indeed.
Arsenal have the best goals per match ratio at the moment but their defence is a mess and it’s brought about some serious concerns, no less than dropping out of the top four into fifth place.
Manchester United
United look like they’ve ridden the Ole Gunnar Solskjær good vibe wave as far as it will go. The Norwegian former player started his Manchester United managerial career off to a stomping start by winning his first six league games on the bounce.
Solskjær brought United back into the mix after Mourinho’s tenure came to an impromptu and miserable end. But after a turn of bad form that has seen them take only one point out of the last potential nine, United are back where they started in December – sixth place.
But what do they have going for themselves? Well, first off they don’t have to set their sights anywhere else. They are the only team in the battle for top four who don’t have to divert valuable energy and resources to a European campaign.
Despite being in sixth, they’re still firmly in the mix and thanks to poor results on the part of their rivals they’re still in with a shot. Although like old foes Arsenal they’re relying on those above them to drop points in order to make it happen.
