Will Chelsea snub Europa Conference League and who can they face?

Chelsea appear to have confirmed they will participate in next season’s Europa Conference League despite suggestions they may be forced to decline the place.

Despite finishing in sixth place in the Premier League, the west London club have been relegated to Europe’s third-tier competition after Manchester United’s surprise FA Cup win over Manchester City – with the Red Devils instead earning the final Europa League spot.

Due to UEFA’s more stringent financial sustainability regulations (FSR) there had been claims Chelsea might withdraw from the Europa Conference League as they risk breaching the rules.

UEFA’s FSR allow for losses up to €80million (£68.5m) for the 2024-25 monitoring period, which looks at a two-year period between 2022 and 2024.

The Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) grant a little more leeway, allowing losses of up to £105m, and Chelsea were just shy of that figure with a pre-tax loss of £90.1m.

However, not only is that more than is permitted by UEFA, but Chelsea’s compliance with PSR also hinged on the sale of two hotels at Stamford Bridge to a sister company – but real estate profits are excluded from UEFA’s FSR calculation.

That puts Chelsea in a somewhat sticky position, particularly with Europa Conference League earnings being far lower than the Champions League, though the Blues appear to be pressing ahead with their participation judging by a statement released following United’s FA Cup win.

The statement read: ‘Chelsea will play in the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League after England’s European qualification spots were finalised following Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup final.

‘Manchester United’s victory over Manchester City at Wembley means the Red Devils gain access to continental football via the route provided by the domestic trophy – in turn confirming the UEFA tournament that we will participate in.

‘It will be the first time we have competed in the competition that was initially contested in the 2021/22 season.’

Chelsea’s participation in Europe could accelerate the departures of homegrown players such as Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah before June 30, with their potential sales counting as pure profit.

Who could Chelsea face in the Europa Conference League?

Chelsea will enter the tournament at the play-off round stage and will need to win a two-legged tie to secure a place in the new-look league stage, with all three of Europe’s competitions having been overhauled from next season onwards.

The play-off round fixtures will take place on 22 and 29 August and Chelsea will discover their opponents on 5 August when the draw is made.

As things stand, and despite not playing in Europe last season, Chelsea would have nearly three times the coefficient (96.000) of the next best-ranked club in the competition, Real Betis (33.000).

The Spanish side, along with German club Heidenheim and French side Lens, are the only other teams with their place in the play-off round already confirmed. Either the eighth or ninth ranked Serie A club will also go straight to the play-off round too.

The 12 teams knocked out of the Europa League play-off round will also qualify for the league stage of the Conference League.

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