http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Petr-Cech-c29837 believes that qualifying for the Champions League is essential for the Blues, despite the fact that the club is going through a transition period.
Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League table and are five points behind fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur. The two sides met on Saturday at Stamford Bridge with the match ending in a 0-0 draw.
The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Czech-Republic-c2882 international thinks that the Blues were unable to press for the title this season, as they were caught in a transition period. However, he said that a failure to qualify for the Champions League will result in a wasted year for the club.
''It would be a year lost in the progression of the club," said Cech.
Chelsea have played in the Champions League for the last nine years. In 2008, the Stamford Bridge side finished as runners up to Manchester United in Moscow, in a pulsating final which the Red Devils won via a penalty shootout.
However, they face a daunting task of making it into the next year’s competition. For the Blues to qualify, they will need to fight out in the eight remaining league games, in order to secure a place in the top four. A win in this year’s Champions League will also result in automatic qualification for the team. Currently, the Blues have made it into the quarterfinal stage and will take on Benfica for a place in the last four.
Cech thinks that it is necessary for the club to qualify for the elite European competition, as it is vital for Chelsea’s future. According to him, should the team fail to do so, it would result in serious repercussions for the Blues.
"It would slow down all the process, of being a Champions League club, hunting for trophies, even if it will not be the end of Chelsea. I believe that we will come back,” he assessed.
He went on to say that the West London side cannot afford to be distracted by the fact that a win at Munich will hand them the Champions League berth. He believed that Chelsea can overcome the 5 points deficit with eight games left and said that his side cannot afford anymore slip ups.
“… there are 24 points still left, and that is a lot of points to play for. In that period, you could overcome a five-point deficit, but you need to make sure that you win all your games or the majority of them and the other teams slip." He said.
Chelsea will play Aston Villa at Villa Park on 31st March. The Blues will later take on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 in away matches.
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