CHELSEA creeped into next season’s Champions League despite LOSING 2-1 to Aston Villa on the final day of the season.
The Blues made it into the top four after Tottenham came from behind to beat Leicester 3-2 at the King Power Stadium.
- RESULT: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
- Aston Villa XI: 26 Martinez; 4 Konsa, 30 Hause, 5 Mings, 18 Targett; 7 McGinn, 19 Nakamba; 10 Grealish (c), 15 Traore, 21 El Ghazi; 11 Watkins
- Chelsea XI: 16 Mendy; 28 Azpilicueta (c), 6 Silva, 2 Rudiger; 24 James, 17 Kovacic, 5 Jorginho, 21 Chilwell; 19 Mount, 10 Pulisic; 11 Werner
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THAT’S ALL FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON!
WOW!
What a season it has been, with some huge twists and turns. But it is Man City, once again, who finish on top.
Now Pep Guardiola will travel to Portugal with his side as Man City chase their first ever Champions League!
England have seven teams competition in Europe next season.
Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea will compete in the Champions League.
Leicester and West Ham will compete in the Europa League. fantastic achievement for the Hammers especially.
And Tottenham will take part in the first ever Europa Conference League, and they’ll be one of the strongest teams in the competition – so it’s a good chance to pick up some silverware.
Unfortunately for Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United, they failed to beat the drop and will be playing in the Championship next season.
Norwich and Watford are on their way up, but we will find out who the third team will be next Saturday when Brentford take on Swansea at Wembley!
See you next season!
BLUE DID IT
THOMAS TUCHEL can fly to Portugal on Friday safe in the knowledge that the Champions League final is just a shot at silverware.
Despite defeat and a sloppy display at Villa Park, results elsewhere mean Chelsea scraped into the top four, so qualify for the world’s most lucrative tournament next season.
But the methodical German will not deeply unhappy that it was left to somebody else to do the work for him.
Tottenham’s surprise 4-2 win at Leicester merely masks the massive shortcomings of his team yesterday and its failure to step up to the plate when the circumstances demanded it.
Read More: Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 1 Match Report
DEFENDER TURNED GOAL-SCORER
Ben Chilwell scored his first goal in 22 Premier League games – his third for Chelsea in the league this season, and as many as he scored for his former team, Leicester City, last season in the Premier League.
FULL-TIME STATS
Despite losing, Chelsea finish inside the top four!
FINAL STANDINGS
Man City will be crowned champions of England shortly!
Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea make up the rest of the top four and will play in the Champions League next season.
Leicester end the season with an FA Cup, but narrowly missed out on Champions League football – they’ll be joined by West Ham in the Europa League.
And Tottenham will play in the new Europa Conference League next season after coming from behind to win at the King Power Stadium.
Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield are all relegated and will be playing in the Championship next season.
TOP FOUR
Incredible.
SUPER WHO?
Aston Villa fans poked fun at Chelsea!
FROM THE SPOT
El Ghazi scored Aston Villa’s second!
FT: ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
Aston Villa got a second early on in the second half thanks to El Ghazi.
The winger stepped up and converted the penalty won by fellow goal-scorer Traore.
Chelsea pushed and pushed, and finally they got a goal back thanks to Chilwell.
The left-back popped up at the far post and finished off Pulisic’s inch-perfect cross.
Luckily for the Blues, Leicester capitulated in the second half and Tottenham won the game 2-4.
Chelsea, despite losing, finish 4th in the Premier League and will play in the Champions League next season!
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES AT VILLA PARK!
ASTON VILLA TAKE ALL THREE POINTS!
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
90+4. Watkins concedes a free-kick on the edge of Chelsea’s penalty area. Not long left to get an equaliser.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
90+2. Bale has scored AGAIN! Leicester have capitulated.
Chelsea will be playing Champions League football next season no matter what happens at Villa Park.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
90. The fourth official holds his board up and there will be five additional minutes played.
I wonder if words has gotten onto the pitch about the result at the King Power Stadium?
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
88. RED CARD!
Azpilicueta is sent off after an altercation with Grealish! The Chelsea captain swings his arm and catches the Villa captain.
Scenes at Villa Park!
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
86. SAVE!
Ziyech goes on a run and dances his way to the byline.
The tricky winger manages to float a cross towards the far post, finding Chilwell.
Chilwell gets a shot off at the far post but Martinez pulls off a magnificent save!
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
85. Chelsea are pushing for an equaliser, but Aston Villa are defending valiantly!
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
83. Update at the King Power Stadium….. Leicester have BOTTLED it!
Bale has scored a third for Tottenham and as it stands, Chelsea will qualify for the Champions League!
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
81. Chelsea are pushing for an equaliser and Azpilicueta wins Chelsea another corner.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
80. Werner wins Chelsea a corner after some tenacious running down the left-hand side.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
78. SUBSTITUTION!
18-year-old Ramsey is on for goal-scorer El Ghazi.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
77. Chilwell finds himself in some room on the left flank yet again, and this time he pulls the ball back towards the penalty spot.
Werner tries to close the ball down to get a shot off, but Mings beats him to the ball and clears the danger.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
75. Chiwell peels off at the back post, and delivers a first time cross back across goal and into the path of Havertz.
The German steers the ball towards goal, but it deflects off the arm of Mings and Villa clear.
VAR has a look and sides with the Villa defender who couldn’t do much about the positioning of his arm.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
74. There’s been an equaliser at the King Power Stadium and Tottenham are back on level terms!
Chelsea are back inside the top four on goal difference!
And at Anfield, Liverpool have scored a second.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
73. SUBSTITUTION!
Goal-scorer Traore is brought off for Chukwuemeka.
ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA
72. Rudiger steps in well on Rudiger and wins possession back for Chelsea inside his own half.
Watkins goes to ground and looks in some pain.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
