Chelsea on brink of 'disaster' as former player sounds warning to Enzo Maresca

Chris Sutton believes that the higher powers at would feel that failing to qualify for the would be a 'disaster'. The Blues have endured a rollercoaster of a season so far and questions are already starting to be raised about .

His side are currently sitting in seventh place in the Premier League and will be hoping to bridge the gap on when they face London rivals today (Sunday), and they head into the clash on the back of reaching the final four of the European Conference League.

Maresca has spoken previously about how he hopes he can guide his side into the top four this season, though the ex-Leicester City boss also stressed that achieving such a feat is by no means an expectation.

However, former Chelsea star Sutton believes that the higher powers at Stamford Bridge would certainly be disappointed if their side are not playing Champions League football next season. He told : "I think from the Chelsea owner's perspective, I think they'll view it as a bit of a disaster (if they don't qualify for the Champions League) because Maresca was brought in to take them to that next level, the Champions League level.

"They finished sixth last season, and they finished strongly under [Mauricio] Pochettino. While calling it a disaster may be strong, I think from the Chelsea owner's perspective, that would be the way that they view it.

"They expected to make the next step this season and they're in a real race. It's really interesting that sort of race now for the Champions League spots, the top five because then you can even look at the likes of Fulham and Brighton, and if they have an amazing run towards the end of the season, then they're in with a sniff."

Regardless of where they finish in the table, Chelsea are expected to splash the cash in the summer transfer window. The Blues are in the market, and Sutton has given Ipswich's Liam Delap a vote of confidence if Maresca's side opts to pursue the 22-year-old.

He said: "I love Delap, I really do. I think he's been brilliant this season. I think that everything which I've seen from him, temperament-wise, he scored goals in a struggling Ipswich team. Left foot, right foot, he's got pace, he can play with his back to goal. He's got that arrogance which you need to play at the top level."