Chelsea CL success could deny Arsenal, Spurs

UEFA chiefs are keen to avoid another situation like the one that saw five English teams effectively qualified for the Champions League in 2006.

Chelsea, who currently sit fifth in the Premier League, play Benfica in the quarter-final of the Champions League and currently sit fifth in the Premier League.

They are the last English team left in this season's competition.

UEFA have now confirmed that should the Blues achieve European success, it will be they who qualify for next season's competiton regardless of where they finish in the league.

Speaking to The People, a spokesman said: "In the situation that Chelsea win the Champions League and Arsenal finish fourth, Arsenal will then play in the Europa League."

In 2006, Liverpool were entered as a stateless team after they won the 2005 Champions League and Everton finished ahead of them in fourth place.