Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has claimed that his Premier League champions will dust off the early-season cobwebs and finish in the top four at a minimum this season.
The Blues have endured their worst start to a top-flight campaign for 37 years, with the Londoners sitting 16th after winning eight points from a possible 24.
Mourinho, whose side sit seven points behind fourth-placed Crystal Palace, claims that the battle for Champions League qualification is as fierce as ever, but says that Chelsea will not be surrendering their top-four status.
"In the beginning of the season I said that this championship is so dangerous that, two years ago, Man United were out of the top four," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
"Last year Liverpool were out of the top four. And this year somebody will be out of the top four. Somebody can be Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Man City, Arsenal.I'm not speaking about Tottenham, Everton and Swansea, teams that try and have a chance of being in amongst the top four.
"Somebody will be out. Do I think it's Chelsea? No, I don't think it's Chelsea. But I said in pre-season, when everybody had zero points, that there's a big risk because the competition is very difficult."
The West Londoners host struggling Aston Villa on Saturday, with the Villans only two places and four points behind them.
Shane Callaghan
