Gary Neville believes Chelsea are good enough to finish in the top five and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The Blues’ defeat to Arsenal on Super Sunday means Liam Rosenior’s side sit sixth in the Premier League table with 10 games remaining, three points behind Liverpool and six points behind Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Chelsea have to face three of their European compatriots over the next few weeks, starting with Wednesday night’s game against Aston Villa, and also have Champions League and FA Cup fixtures in the final stages of the season.
However, Neville believes the team still has plenty of potential, predicting which players could miss out on next season’s Champions League.
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Free to watch: Highlights of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea
“I think United will definitely finish third,” he told the Gary Neville Podcast.
“I can’t believe I’m saying that because of where they were six weeks ago, but they have no distractions, something good is happening and they’re riding high.
“I think Liverpool will finish fourth, I think Chelsea will finish fifth. I hope Villa finish in the top five, I really do.”
“I said before that their manager is an experienced and sensible man. Even if they get some players back, injuries to midfield players in recent weeks have cost them.”
“I think it will be Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. “The only question is Chelsea or Villa will be fifth.
“Injuries like the ones we had in midfield cost them a lot of lives. Michael Carrick brought Harry Maguire back. He brought Lisandro Martinez back for a few games. He brought Mbeumo and Amado back from AFCON. He was lucky to have players back. Unai Emery lost players.”
“Injuries will be a big factor. Other competitions will also be a big factor. At the moment they are in a dangerous situation, Villa. They are vulnerable in terms of Champions League qualification.”
“Jekyll and Hyde Chelsea need three more players”
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Gary Neville is perplexed by Chelsea, but says they still need an experienced striker and centre-back and a top-class goalkeeper.
Despite believing Chelsea risk defeat and missing out on next season’s Champions League, Neville believes the Blues are just three players away from fighting for top spot.
“I’ve never felt so many different emotions about a team during a match and commented on what kind of team they are,” he added.
“You can look at them in a game and think they’re naive. You can think they’re too nice. You can think they’re electric. You can think they’re a great possession team. You can think, oh, they’ve got a lot of talent. You can think so many different things about them. You can think they lack discipline. And they’re all of those things.
“In the first half, I was watching them and I thought, hey, they weren’t running forward as important. In a game like this, that’s not how you win.
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Liam Rossenia reflects on Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal
“And I watched them in the second half, and I think it’s the complete opposite. You see them going into the half turn. You see James on the other side whipping.”
“You can see Pigeon running a lot forward here on the left side. He was more aggressive. You can see Enzo Fernandes running forward with a purpose along with Joao Pedro.
“There were many times during the game against Chelsea where we were turned over by the idea that the opposition were miles away, but they simply thought, if we get a goalkeeper and an experienced centre-back, if we get an experienced centre-forward we will be in business.
“They need a top-class goalkeeper and a top-class centre-back with experience. And they need a top-class centre-forward to accompany Joao Pedro and Delap, rather than replacing them or displacing them.”
“Sesco will be a game changer”
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Gary Neville says Benjamin Sesco has scored different types of goals for Manchester United and has forced himself into Michael Carrick’s plans
Neville praised Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesco after he produced a goal in the Red Devils’ come-from-behind victory over Crystal Palace.
Sesco was handed his first start by manager Michael Carrick after arriving at the club with five goals in his last seven league games.
He would score the winning goal for the third time in Carrick’s tenure, with Neville praising the Slovenian’s transformation.
“It’s the confidence and the goals. The finishes he scored against Fulham, Everton, West Ham and Palace are four great goals. They’re all completely different goals,” Neville said.
“He’s improved a lot. It’s the first time manager Michael Carrick has started him, so he obviously had doubts about him, but what he’s done over the last four or five weeks with him coming in as a sub. He’s getting Sesco into shape.”
“This is a game-changer for United. We can’t afford to have another centre-forward come to the club and make a mistake.”
