Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that the team will "fight" for a place in the top four this season following a torrid start to the campaign.
The Blues are currently 15th in the Premier League table following seven defeats, two draws and four wins.
Mourinho guided the team to the title comfortably last season, but they are already 14 points off the top spot, and 12 adrift of the final Champions League spot.
This evening, the West London outfit will take on Maccabi Tel Aviv in the European competition, but with regards to domestic matters, Mourinho remains confident that a top four place is possible.
"Two seasons ago Man United didn't qualify for the Champions league," Mourinho told the club's official website. "Last year Liverpool didn't qualify for the Champions League and I said before the season started that another big team will not qualify for the Champions League. We have to make sure that big team is not Chelsea.
"I know how the Premier League is at the moment. It is a completely different reality from years ago. There is this risk. How can we qualify for the Champions League? I think we have to fight the next match. Now the next match is in the Champions League and we have to fight this match, believing that it is the way that can take us to Champions League football next season.
"After tonight we will look at the Premier League match against Tottenham and we have to think that with more than 70 points to play for, the Premier League is still a window of opportunity for us to qualify."
Chelsea are five points above the relegation zone.
Danielle Joynson
