Chelsea’s Champions League Hopes Diminish After Defeat to Atalanta.
Chelsea’s Champions League Hopes Diminish After Defeat to Atalanta.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed uncertainty about his team’s chances of progressing to the Champions League knockout stages. After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Atalanta in Italy on Tuesday night, Chelsea’s prospects of automatic qualification have dimmed further. This loss marked their second Champions League defeat of the season, intensifying their challenge to reach the last 16.
Maresca acknowledged that the Blues would likely need to win their remaining two group matches to stand a chance of qualifying. Their upcoming fixtures are against Greek side Pafos and Serie A champions Napoli. “Probably with two wins, maybe 16 points, you can be in the top eight,” he said, but admitted he was unsure if that would be enough. “Not sure about that, but now the focus has to be that first game. If we want to try to finish in the top eight, we need to win both.”
The London club’s focus now shifts to domestic competition, with a crucial Premier League fixture against David Moyes’ Everton scheduled for the weekend. Chelsea is currently fifth in the Premier League standings, eight points behind league leaders Arsenal. The team will be eager to bounce back from their Champions League setback and restore confidence in their campaign.
The defeat to Atalanta underscores the challenges Chelsea faces in both Europe and the Premier League this season. With limited room for error, Maresca’s men will need to improve their performances quickly if they hope to advance in the Champions League and challenge for the domestic title.
