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Chelsea Manager Sends Message to Critics after Qualifying for UEFA Champions League

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ryan White | Last updated May 25, 2025 5:18 PM ET

The 2024-2025 final Premier League standings are set, with six clubs securing spots in next season's UEFA Champions League (UCL).

The Premier League gained a fifth spot after its performances across the UCL, UEFA Europa League (UEL), and UEFA Conference League (UCoL). The two leagues with the best set of collective results in European competition get a fifth team in the Champions League through the European Performance Spots (EPS).

With Arsenal's 3-0 victory against Real Madrid on April 8, it was officially announced that the Premier League will receive one of the two EPS.

The champions of England, Liverpool, along with Arsenal, were locked in early. Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle United rounded out spots 3-5 to qualify for European competition.

Coming soon to the Champions League...

Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
⚫️ Newcastle
⚪️ Spurs pic.twitter.com/eqfyBCWyhR
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 25, 2025

It’s Chelsea’s first time since the 2022-2023 season to appear in the UCL, making it a massive achievement for first year manager Enzo Maresca, who is letting the critics hear it.

“They were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough,” Maresca said. “They were waiting for Villa to drop points in case we wanted to achieve the champions league, and they were saying we’re not able to win at this pitch…

Well, in English I’d say: ‘F off' to all of them,” he said today following the match.

“In English I would say F off to all of them”

War Enzo Maresca pic.twitter.com/oWpfWGORvs
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) May 25, 2025

Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League Final earned them a UCL slot to make it 6 English clubs slated to play in Europe’s best tournament.

Newcastle United clinched their spot despite a 1-0 loss to Everton, benefiting from Manchester United’s 2-0 win over 10-man Aston Villa, which left Villa sixth.

The Premier League's depth is evident as these clubs prepare for Europe’s annual tournament, and the 36-team Champions League format promises intense competition.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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