Chelsea's campaign to finish inside the Top 4 of the Premier League stands to be greatly affected by the club's upcoming matches. The Blues will face next Liverpool and Wolverhampton, and the tough battles ahead suggested that Frank Lampard's side could fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.
The Blues are No. 3 on the table at the moment but Leicester and Manchester United are breathing hard on their neck. Given the prevailing circumstances, Chelsea sliding down when the competition is over seemed not a remote possibility, according to Ian Wright.
The former Arsenal star said Chelsea will be playing teams that are capable and determined to win so the possibility is there that two successive losses will greet the London club. That could mean missing out on the chance to become European champions for the campaign to come.
"I think Chelsea might struggle. I think going to Liverpool, with Liverpool wounded themselves [they'll struggle]," Metro reported Wright as saying.
The pundit noted that while the Reds have already won the title, Jurgen Klopp's side will want to score a win over the Blues following the disappointing showing versus Arsenal. Wright added Klopp has to be gunning to end the season with a bang, which should be afforded by overwhelming Lampard's squad.
The Wolves, on the other hand, have a slim chance to make the Champions League cut and Wright is seeing the club fighting hard to make the impossible still possible.
The Blues are only one-point away from Leicester and United so the team must pick up the six points remaining to get to the desired ending of the campaign. Compared to that of Leicester and United, Chelsea's last two matches could lead to disappointments so Wright is warning that it will be tough for Lampard after the win against Norwich City.
However, there is one good thing going for Chelsea and that's having Olivier Giroud around.
Wright took note of the Frenchman's impressive quality in the season, which Football London said was evidenced by the forward's performance in the last six games where he started for the Blues. Giroud fired five shots that cleared the net, proving that he gets the job done.
"He's got quality, he's got a fantastic pass and this is what he does, get across the near post and try to clip it in. He's a top-quality player and Frank is lucky to have him," Wright was reported as saying.
For his part, Giroud said that pressure is on his side to win the remaining matches. The 33-year-old added that to accomplish the goal, the Blues have to be patient, quick on the pitch, and focused on the game.
