Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has warned his team-mates that they need to secure a top-four Premier League finish to avoid missing out on next season’s Champions League.
The Blues are preparing for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica, with Chelsea 1/2 with bookmaker to reach the last four, where they would face the winners of the tie between holders Barcelona and AC Milan.
However, Cech is adamant that league position is every bit as important as European success, saying: “You can’t afford to slip out of the Champions League spots, because the big teams are about the Champions League.
“I believe that one season will make a difference, because it will slow down all the process of being a Champions League club and hunting for trophies.”
Chelsea currently trail fourth-placed Spurs by five points with eight games to play in the league following a goalless draw between the two sides at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.