Chelsea face a daunting end to 2025-26 with a run-in that could turn ugly very quickly, starting with Sunday’s visit of City. Pep Guardiola’s side have reignited their hopes of catching Arsenal in the title race despite dropping points the last time they played a Premier League game, since beating the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final and destroying Liverpool in the FA Cup. Chelsea could very well meet them in the final of the latter.
After City, Chelsea then welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge, with build-up likely to be dominated by the Red Devils’ supposed interest in Palmer. It could thus become another week in which the Blues try and shut down a PR nightmare.
Rosenior’s men still have trips to Liverpool and Sunderland to navigate, while they face relegation candidates Nottingham Forest and bitter enemies Tottenham before the season is out. It’s already an uphill battle for Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League as is, but their schedule is more gruelling than their rivals’ to really up the ante.
Missing out on Europe’s top club competition could cost Chelsea millions and would only intensify talk of their star players jumping ship. The long arm of PSR laws have already knocked on their door, and this time there aren’t any workarounds besides selling their most expensive assets. The first team powers the club, and right now it’s in disarray.
Palmer faces the tricky task of trying to find his shooting boots while fighting off more injuries and doing enough to convince England manager Tuchel he is worthy of a place at the World Cup. He and Chelsea could really do with him turning back into the player that became so feared on his ascent to stardom.
