Chelsea’s quest for European football next season has been significantly strengthened after Manchester United’s crushing 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
The Eagles’ dominant display at Selhurst Park stretched their unbeaten run to five games and dealt a severe blow to United’s hopes of securing a spot in the Europa League.
It was clear from the outset that Erik ten Hag’s team was in trouble as Michael Olise scored the opening goal within the first fifteen minutes.
“I think it’s a good night. Obviously, we’ve been working hard and focusing on ourselves and we know what we can bring to the table when we’re at home. The fans were behind us so I just thought, ‘let’s go. It could’ve been [a hat-trick]. Probably [should have been],” Man of the Match winner, Olise said after the game.
Jean-Philippe Mateta then doubled Palace’s lead shortly before half-time, netting his ninth goal in 11 Premier League games.
“Congratulations – but always stay humble. We know it is not so long ago when we struggled with relegation, just five points away, but now we’ve found ourselves and the players have confidence. That is what we want to read. We are doing well, but we still have a lot to improve.” Palace manager, Oliver Glasner remarked.
The second half didn’t bring any relief for United, as Tyrick Mitchell found the net, followed by Olise scoring again with a brilliant strike, securing the game for Palace.
With three games remaining, there’s still potential for significant shifts, but United’s dismal performance at Selhurst Park has notably boosted Chelsea’s prospects of securing European football.
It’s worth noting that only the top four teams in the Premier League will secure spots in the redesigned competition for the following season, with Italy and Germany having earned extra Champions League qualifying spots. Aston Villa needs three more points from their final two games to join Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool.
Though Chelsea currently trail Spurs in fifth by six points with limited games left, securing fifth place remains plausible. However, for this to happen, the Blues would need Newcastle, Manchester United, and Tottenham to drop points, which is improbable.
Manchester United is currently eighth with 54 points, while Newcastle ranks sixth with 56 points, and Chelsea sits seventh with 54 points. All three teams have three Premier League games remaining.
