Maurizio Sarri has called the Champions League over-rated — claiming the League Cup is a harder competition to win.
Of course, his Chelsea side weren't even in the Champions League this season and are in a four-way fight to qualify for the 2019-20 version as the Premier League campaign enters its final four games.
Defeat at Liverpool last weekend dropped the Blues out of the Champions League spots, but seeing Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal all lose this weekend means they can go third with a home win over Burnley on Monday night.
Chelsea and the Gunners both have another route to qualification as they are through to the semis of the Europa League, with that competition's eventual winner going straight into the group stage of its big brother.
Either way, it is going to be a real battle – and one which could decide the Italian’s future at Stamford Bridge.
After Burnley, Chelsea travel to Old Trafford next Sunday, then face FA Cup semi-finalists Watford at home and a Leicester side looking lively under new boss Brendan Rodgers away.
“We cannot choose a route," said Sarri. “We have to try in the Premier League, we have to try in the Europa League. But we want to win the Europa League because it is a very important competition in itself, not just because of going in the Champions League.
“We have to try to get into the top four. It’s not easy because we only have four matches left.
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“The last four five or five matches will be difficult for every team involved. We might see some very strange results in the last part of the season. But we are going to fight to the end.
“People give the Champions League too much importance. Of course it is the most important competition for clubs, but now [in the knockout phase] it is one with straight elimination — the ball goes in off a post or out and you qualify or are eliminated.
“You need to play very well, but you need to be lucky in that competition.
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"It’s clear it’s the most important competition for clubs in the world - but it’s a competition where you need to be lucky.
“The Premier League is very difficult. To get to the final of the League Cup, we had to play Liverpool, Tottenham and then Manchester City in the final. It is easier to get to the final of the Champions League.
“But in the Europa League at this point you cannot expect anything easy, either. We have to try in both ways.”
Youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to be recalled against Sean Dyche’s team, along with full-back Marcos Alonso and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
