In
his latest column, Paul Merson explains why Chelsea must be back in the
Champions League next season...
Champions League has to be target for Chelsea next season
Chelsea haven't been consistent enough. They've been good in the cups -
that's what sometimes happens when you're a young team.
They're doing well at the moment, fair play, and they're right in the race
for Europe. For me, they've got to get in - they've got into a final, a
semi-final, they were bang unlucky in both, and it could turn out to still
be not a bad season.
But they'll have to go and buy players, and not sit and think that they got
it right all along. No, they haven't. They're miles off Man City and
Arsenal. You've got to look at the all-round picture.
They've got to bring in experience in the summer. It looks like Thiago
Silva's going, he's their main experienced player.
So they've got to add to that, you need that if you want consistency when
things aren't going too well, and they can just calm it down a bit. They
probably need an experienced centre-half to take Silva's place, and they
could do with another centre-forward too.
They want to be getting into the Champions League next year, surely. So
they've got to start bridging the gap to Arsenal and Man City.
This is Chelsea, not a run-of-the-mill team. Chelsea are used to winning
things, they want to win stuff - not finish fourth in the league like
Tottenham wanted to do, and celebrate about it.
I can't see how Poch isn't in charge next season, though nothing surprises
you. I haven't thought they should ever get rid of him, he's a good manager.
Individuals don't win anything, and as long as they can keep sorting that
out and keep playing as a team now, they'll be alright.
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