Chelsea's hopes of returning to the Champions League next season may hinge on winning the whole competition itself this campaign. The Blues currently sit 10th in the Premier League after a year or so that has been full of inconsistency and uncertainty, both on and off the pitch.
Head coach Graham Potter will be hopeful that his side have turned a corner in recent weeks after a poor run of form, however they still remain 11 points from fourth. That is already a considerable gap to close, but with another six teams between them and the top four, it will require a huge slice of luck if the side were to finish in the top-four placings.
"It sounds simple but improvement, always," Potter said on what he's looking for from his squad before the end of the season. "We always want to improve. I think we've made some steps and we need to carry on with that. Attack better, defend better, create more chances, concede less chances. Sounds simple but that's what we need to."
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While the Blues are likely to give it their best in the league, perhaps their best shot at returning to the Champions League through winning the competition will sway their priority slightly. The side will have to overcome Real Madrid in the quarter-finals before facing one of Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the final four.
Los Blancos are the current holders of the trophy, but they have been handed a major blow in earning a record 16th title this season. That's because key defender Ferland Mendy is set to miss one month of action after suffering an injury concern over the past few weeks.
The French full-back has been an important player for Carlo Ancelotti, with struggles to find a deputy for his role within the current squad. It could give Chelsea a slight advantage heading into the two-legged affair that could impact their coming season.
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