Will Chelsea miss out on Champions League spot in 2025/26? Here is all you need to know

According to reports, Chelsea might be facing serious trouble in the upcoming season. While Chelsea have managed to maintain their pace in the league, currently sitting in fourth place, their position could be under threat in the UEFA Champions League if they are to qualify at the end of the campaign. BlueCo, a consortium of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, also owns Strasbourg. The consortium purchased the Premier League club in 2022, and since then, the club has been constantly under threat of not being able to participate in the Champions League.

According to UEFA rules, clubs with the same ownership cannot participate in the same tournament. Currently, the French top-flight outfit is six points off the Champions League spots and four points off the Europa League positions. An unnamed source reported to the outlet that the interest by the owners in acquiring multiple clubs could significantly decline. The source said:

There is not so much incentive for owners to invest in European clubs, as part of a multi-club structure, if they cannot be competitive. 

Owners who already have European clubs are having second thoughts about buying more, while some of those that had planned to buy a European club have started to look elsewhere or just pause the idea entirely

What did Manchester United do to avoid this issue? 

Manchester United co-owners, the Glazers, sold their shares to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS a year ago. They faced a similar challenge, as both clubs were eligible to play in the UEFA Europa League: Nice finished fifth, and Manchester United triumphed in the FA Cup. When UEFA considered demoting the Red Devils to the Conference League, INEOS moved their shares to a blind trust. Similarly, Chelsea could adopt the same approach, but it remains to be seen if they can do so before the end of the season.

What if the owners don't find the way out?

Strasbourg are also challenging for a Champions League spot, but it will remain interesting to see where they end up on the points table. If both clubs were to qualify based on their finishes, the highest-placed team would play in the elite competition, while the other would play in the Europa League.