Petr Cech believes Chelsea will be facing a 'lost' year if the Blues fail to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea keeper determined to maintain Champions League record
Petr Cech believes Chelsea will be facing a 'lost' year if the Blues fail to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, but is adamant it would not be the end for the club.
Chelsea's 0-0 draw at home with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday left the club five points adrift of their London rivals, who currently hold the final Champions League spot.
With just eight games to play, it is looking increasingly likely that winning this season's Champions League represents Chelsea's best option of featuring in next term's competition, although Benfica, and then AC Milan or Barcelona, stand in their way of reaching the final.
The Blues have never failed to participate in Europe's elite club competition since Roman Abramovich's takeover nine years ago and Cech is aware of the importance of maintaining that record.
Transition
"It is a year lost in the progression of the club," said the goalkeeper. "For a big club, you can accept that the team does not win the league because it is in transition.
"But you can't afford to slip out of the Champions League spots, because the big teams are about the Champions League."
However, Cech is confident Chelsea would not suffer the same fate as Liverpool were they to finish outside the top four.
Cech said: "Liverpool had so many problems within the club, not really on the pitch, so that is why they kind of lost some time. But this club has the structure.
"I believe that one season will make a difference, because it will slow down all the process of being a Champions League club and hunting for trophies, but it will not be the end of Chelsea, because I believe that we will come back."
The Czech Republic international is looking forward to a hectic schedule, with the Blues also still in the FA Cup, adding: "If we manage to get through to the semi-final of the Champions League, we will have a crazy calendar with a lot of games.
"It's good in a way because it means that you are in the hunt for trophies.
"In terms of the Premier League, we have put ourselves in a difficult position. But there are 24 points still left, and that is a lot of points to play for.
"In that period, you could overcome a five-point deficit, but you need to make sure that you win all your games or the majority of them and the other teams slip."
