After last night’s difficult Champions League encounter with PSG ending in a 2-1 defeat, and a troubling Premier League campaign which has left the Blues currently in 12th place, Champions League qualification for next season is looking highly unlikely.
The last hope of success is winning the Champions League in order to qualify for next year’s competition. A feat perhaps even more unlikely than Chelsea’s victory in 2012 over Bayern Munich.
This means that in the summer Chelsea may struggle to attract the highest calibre of player without the Champions League qualification.
Therefore, I will be taking a look at five players we must retain in order for the Blues to succeed next season.
John Terry
One of the most successful ever players at Chelsea, John Terry is currently embroiled in a public dispute over a contract extension in the summer.
At the age of 35, he is nearing the end of his career, but as a captain and a leader, there are no other player’s like him in Chelsea’s squad.
Retaining Terry even as a squad player will help to inspire younger members of the squad, as well as developing the talents of new signings such as Matt Miazga.
Diego Costa
Since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2014, the controversial Spanish striker has split the opinion of Chelsea fans.
However, since the arrival of new boss Guus Hiddink, Costa has looked rejuvenated looking like the player of last season.
Rumours suggest Costa may be looking to return to Spain but the passion and clinical finishing he possesses will be important for Chelsea if they wish to return to Champions League football.
Eden Hazard
After a string of poor performances this season, scoring just once in all competitions many Chelsea fans believe now is the time for the Blues to cash in on the interest coming from Real Madrid, and their new boss Zinedine Zidane.
But ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ and on his day, Hazard can change a game with just one piece of magic. If Chelsea hope to be one of the biggest teams in the world once again, they must retain players of Hazard’s calibre.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Chelsea have often been heavily criticised for their lack of youth team players progressing to be successful in the first team. The last success story was current captain John Terry.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a real hope for the future and has this season managed to get some minutes in the first team, impressing fans and pundits alike.
With Ramires being sold to Jiangsu Suning F.C. in China it will be important for Loftus-Cheek to get more minutes to prove he’s a player who has a hope of succeeding at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro
After arriving from Barcelona in the summer after a hugely successful career there, fans had high hopes for this Spanish attacker.
He has struggled for form and game time, coinciding with Chelsea’s poor start to the season. However, in the game against PSG, Pedro showed signs of the player that lit up the Nou Camp, after also impressing against Newcastle.
His work rate cannot be faulted, and we must keep Pedro as he settles into the Premier League and his new home.