A new UEFA rule would give Chelsea the option to choose between the Champions League and Europa League.
The Blues are currently fighting to qualify for the Champions League via finishing in the Premier League top five.
But they don’t have to take their spot even if they finish due to a UEFA rule, which would become relevant should they win the Europa Conference League.
Enzo Maresca’s side still sit within the top five but are only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, with Nottingham Forest also just one point worse off in seventh.
Chelsea will hope they can retain their place in the table with fixtures against Manchester United and Forest to come. But even if they do, they could find themselves with a degree of flexibility.
Chelsea could still earn a place in the Europa League via the Conference League, if they defeat Real Betis in the final.
Should Maresca’s men earn a place in the Champions League and earn their silverware, they will be afforded the option of choosing between entering the Champions League or the league phase of the Europa League.
There’s little reason to suspect Chelsea will not pick a place in Europe’s biggest competition but there is a good reason for the option to exist. Some domestic qualification spots mean teams must navigate a qualification round.
