A poor season for Chelsea could yet get a lot worse.
Under new manager Graham Potter, the Blues have struggled to find form in the Premier League, and that has seen them drift far away from the top four places, which guarantee Champions League qualification for next season.
Currently hovering around mid-table with a double-digit points deficit from the top-four teams, Chelsea are close to missing out on playing in the lucrative UEFA Champions League in 2023/24.
Their most realistic chance of making it will likely involve them actually winning the Champions League title in 2022/23, thus securing a chance to defend their title.
Should they fall short, it will cost the Blues dearly in year during which they've spent large sums on players who have yet to prove their worth.
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How much money will Chelsea lose if they miss Champions League?
Should Chelsea fail to qualify for the Champions League in 2023/24, they will miss out on the €15.6 million ($16.6m) in prize money currently guaranteed to teams that reached the group stage in 2022/23.
On top of that, they'll miss out on the extra millions that are offered for winning group stage games and progressing to the knockout stages.
In their 2022/23 UCL campaign to date, the Blues have pocketed around €36.4m ($38.7m) all in — a number that could jump by an extra €10m ($10.6m) if they can reach the quarterfinals.
Along with the financial pain, failing to qualify for the Champions League would increase the chances of current players leaving and make signing new recruits that much harder. Many high-profile stars and rising talents seek out teams that will allow them to play in the elite club competition on the planet.
When did Chelsea last miss the Champions League?
Chelsea have regularly qualified for the Champions League over the past two decades.
The Blues last missed out on the competition in the 2018/19 season, but they would go on to win the second-tier Europa League that same season.
The 2016/17 season was the only year this millennium in which Chelsea missed out entirely on playing in Europe, failing to qualify to any of the club competitions after finishing 10th in the 2015/16 Premier League.
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Chelsea Champions League titles and record
Chelsea have won the UEFA Champions League twice in their history.
Their first win came in 2011/12 when the Blues beat Bayern Munich in the final on penalties. A second title came in 2020/21 when they edged past fellow Premier League side Manchester City 1-0.
Chelsea also lost the 2007/08 final against Manchester United on penalties with John Terry famously slipping and missing what could have been a winning spot kick.
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Chelsea Champions League finishes since 2003/04
| Season | Stage reached |
|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Quarterfinals |
| 2020/21 | Winners |
| 2019/20 | Round of 16 |
| 2018/19 | — |
| 2017/18 | Round of 16 |
| 2016/17 | — |
| 2015/16 | Round of 16 |
| 2014/15 | Round of 16 |
| 2013/14 | Semifinals |
| 2012/13 | Group stage |
| 2011/12 | Winners |
| 2010/11 | Quarterfinals |
| 2009/10 | Round of 16 |
| 2008/09 | Semifinals |
| 2007/08 | Runners-up |
| 2006/07 | Semifinals |
| 2005/06 | Round of 16 |
| 2004/05 | Semifinals |
| 2003/04 | Semifinals |
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!! 🏆 #ChelseaChampions #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/Wz000kegmG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 29, 2021
