Liam Rosenior admits Chelsea are “running out of time” and need to qualify for Champions League for the season to be considered a success.
The 41-year-old head coach, appointed in January from partner club Strasbourg, has overseen a three-game winless run after defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
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It increases the pressure on Chelsea, who are six points behind top four rivals Manchester United and Aston Villa, before a visit to the latter Midlands club on Wednesday night.
“A successful season for this club has to be to qualify for the Champions League. It has to be,” Rosenior told reporters.
“I’m not shouting from the rooftops. That’s the level of club this club is. Where we are, we still have a very, very good chance of achieving that.
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“Also to win a trophy would be amazing and it’s something that’s achievable. It’s funny today, it’s the first time we trained with the white balls. For me, when those white balls come out, we can’t make those mistakes that we’re making.
“Because you’re running out of time and that’s the message myself and my staff have given the players this morning.”
However, despite the importance of finishing in the top four, with a fifth Champions League place looking likely depending on how English teams perform in Europe this season, Rosenior won’t prioritise Chelsea’s league commitments.
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“No. I don’t look at it that way,” he added. “I want to win every game I play. I know it sounds very cliched but it’s true. That’s why we’re here. Whether it’s Arsenal, Aston Villa or Wrexham away, we want to win and we expect to win every game.”
After facing Villa, Chelsea have away games at in-form Championship play-off chasing Wrexham and against European champions Paris St-Germain in the last-16 of the Champions League.
