Is top four still possible for Chelsea? Here is what Pochettino has to say

Chelsea still have a mathematical chance of playing in the UEFA Champions League next season, according to the coach, Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues finished the previous round of games in 10th place, despite the whopping amounts of money they invested in players over the summer.

There appeared to be some hope after their displays against Tottenham and Manchester City, but a surprise 4-1 defeat away at Newcastle United last Saturday has cast doubt on their chances of qualifying for the Champions League, with 12 points now separating them and fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Speaking during his Friday pre-match press conference, however, Pochettino insisted the Blues cannot give up fight for a place in the top four.

He said: “It is mathematical. I think we still need to believe that it’s realistic. It’s going to be tough to achieve the places to allow us to play in European competition.

“The most important [thing] now is not to see the end of the season, but to see the process and to improve every day. That is the most difficult thing always in this type of process; to be focused on today and not on tomorrow.

“That is the aspect we are working on this week, to try and improve ourselves and what the team needs. That is the process. We cannot think at the end of the season because then we will start to stop what is going to bring us there. We will focus on the present and how we are going to be better every day.”