Chelsea away issues in Premier League threatening hopes of Champions League football next season

Enzo Maresca was still able to pluck some positives out of his Chelsea side’s 0-0 draw at west London rivals Brentford on Sunday despite their winless away run extending.

The Blues have failed to collect maximum points in their past eight Premier League matches on the road  – drawing three and losing five – and have scored just three goals in that period.

This is Chelsea’s longest away run without a win since a run of 16 games between April 2000 and March 2021.

Chelsea are fourth in the table but just one point ahead of Manchester City in the hunt to secure a Champions League spot.

When asked if the away form could kill chances of qualifying for the highly-coveted competition, Blues boss Maresca said: “We started the season winning away games and we struggled a bit at home. Now it is the other way.

“To get the top four or five, you need the right balance. We struggle a bit at this moment to win games away from home.

“Overall, in terms of numbers, we’re there (in a position that lands Champions League football). We can win games away but we also need to win games at home.

“I don’t prepare today thinking: ‘Guys, it’s a long time without an away win, we need to win today’.

“When you’re not able to win, it’s important you don’t lose. You take the point and move up the table.

“This is why we’re happy with the performance – the players gave everything.”

The Blues had 21 shots without scoring against Brentford, which was their most efforts without finding the back of the net in an away Premier League match since December 2017 against Everton.

“We played a good game overall,” said Maresca. “We played a demanding game against Tottenham on Thursday night – we had 24 hours less to prepare than Brentford.

“It was a tricky stadium on a sunny day. We had more than 20 shots and the only thing we missed was the performance.”

The Blues, who were due to play the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw last night, have been without Champions League football for the last two seasons.

“For sure it will be very important,” said Maresca about finishing in the top four. “I said since day one that our duty and target is to bring this club where it has to be – that’s in the Champions League.

“We have been in the top four or five since day one.

“Hopefully we can finish there.”

PICTURE: ALAMY