“Bit of a soft belly” – Glenn Hoddle fires warning to Chelsea in race for Champions League | OneFootball

Former Chelsea boss Glenn Hoddle has warned the Blues not to write off Nottingham Forest in the race for Champions League football.

Chelsea ground a crucial 1-0 win against Manchester United to keep their Champions League hopes alive, with Marc Cucurella scoring the winner in the second half.

The result means Chelsea remain on track for a top five finish, but they must beat Nottingham Forest on the final day to guarantee their return to a competition they’ve previously won twice.

Hoddle warns Chelsea in top five race

Whilst Chelsea control their own destiny in regards to the Champions League, Forest still have a chance to qualify despite dropping out of contention over the past few weeks.

If Forest were to beat both West Ham and Chelsea there’s a slim chance they could record a top five finish, although they would also need Aston Villa to drop points on the final day.

Maresca is under pressure to deliver Champions League football. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Despite their drop in form, Hoddle, who previously tipped Chelsea to miss out has warned that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could still have a big say in who qualifies.

“I wouldn’t count Forest out yet, you never know what you’re going to get with West Ham,” he told Premier League Productions as quoted by Metro.

“Forest could go to West Ham and get a result and if they get a result they’re then at home and that place they’ll get rocking against Chelsea.

“They’ve not been great away from home, they’ve done great at home Chelsea but away they’ve got a bit of a soft belly at the moment.

“I wouldn’t cast them 100% out at the minute, it’s going to go to the wire, it really is. Goal difference is going to play a big, big part in it.”

Forest to end Maresca’s Champions League hopes?

Chelsea haven’t got the best record away from home this season, and they’ve been unable to win a big game away from Stamford Bridge for a number of seasons.

The Blues don’t even have the best record against Forest and have only beaten them once since they returned to the Premier League in 2022.

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That victory came at the City Ground last season, with Nicolas Jackson scoring the winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Chelsea would definitely take the same again, and next Sunday is bound to be a tense and nervy affair given what’s at stake.