- Micah Richards believes Chelsea should focus on the Champions League
- The Blues climbed to tenth in the league after a 4-4 draw against Man City at the weekend
- Why We Should Be Excited About Cole Palmer – Listen to It’s All Coming Up here
Micah Richards believes Chelsea’s aim this season should be to challenge for a place in the Champions League after Sunday’s enthralling 4-4 draw with Man City.
Cole Palmer’s injury-time penalty against his former side gave the Blues a deserved point at Stamford Bridge, helping them climb out of the bottom half of the Premier League.
Chelsea have struggled this season, scoring 16 points and currently sitting 10th in the league, but recent positives highlight that Mauricio Pochettino may be starting to get a grip on his side.
The Blues missed out on any European football this season after finishing 12th in the last league match and are already ten points behind fourth-placed Spurs.
But Richards believes Chelsea can fight to get into the top four given their recent improvements and show of ‘courage’ against City.
Chelsea should aim to ‘fight’ for Champions League football, according to Micah Richards
Mauricio Pochettino is trying to guide Chelsea back to the Champions League this season
Chelsea are currently tenth in the Premier League and ten points behind the top four
When asked about the club’s objectives, Richards said: ‘Keep fighting for the Champions League, it’s as simple as that.
‘It will be tough, but the last two games have given them confidence. This team has courage. So many teams go behind against City and can’t find a way back.
“They kept going and they have quality, Sterling and Palmer. Jackson is not the best striker, but works hard for the team.
“Liverpool, when they had Salah, Mane, Firmino and Firmino, were great on the ball but had a role to play for the team. Jackson’s job could be urgent on this team,” he said.
Chelsea’s owners have invested heavily in a bid to win silverware and break Manchester City’s dominance, but have so far struggled to invest in ready-made Premier League stars.
American co-owner Todd Boehly has spent more than £1 billion on new players in his first 12 months. Graham Potter was sacked earlier in the summer and Pochettino was brought in in the summer.
The Argentinian previously managed both Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, guided Tottenham to the final of the competition and is now trying to get Chelsea back among Europe’s elite.
Chelsea rallied against Man City to score late on to seal a sensational 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge
Micah Richards believes Chelsea must ‘fight’ for a place in the Champions League this season
Jamie Carragher made similar demands for Chelsea as Richards, but explained that he does not believe they can secure a place in the top four of the Premier League this season.
“You have to remember how early it is in the season. Three or four weeks ago everyone was writing off Man United because they were in the top four, and now they are only four or five points off that.
‘I expect Chelsea to improve with Pochettino. I don’t think they will make the top four, but we still have to fight with them.
‘They are not competing with the best teams who are going for the top four and they will also drop points. People in those positions are losing points, there is still a lot for them to do,” he added.
