By Our Correspondent

National News – Former Wayne Rooney has predicted that Chelsea FC could emerge as serious Premier League contenders next season despite failing to qualify for European competitions.

Rooney made the remarks while reacting to Chelsea’s disappointing 2025/2026 campaign, which ended with a 10th-place finish after a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland AFC on the final day of the season.

The former England captain explained that Chelsea’s absence from European football could become an advantage because the team would have fewer fixtures and more training time.

According to Rooney, newly appointed coach Xabi Alonso will benefit from having a full week between matches to introduce his tactics and improve the squad’s consistency.

Chelsea endured a turbulent season marked by managerial instability after parting ways with Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior before appointing Alonso.

Although the club began the season as Club World Cup winners, domestic and European performances fell below expectations.

The Blues reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 but suffered a heavy 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Rooney noted that the upcoming World Cup schedule could also affect clubs participating in European tournaments next season.

He stated that managers involved in Europe may struggle with limited preparation time, while Chelsea could gain an edge through additional training sessions during the week.

The football legend also recalled Chelsea’s remarkable recovery during the 2016/2017 campaign when the club bounced back from a 10th-place finish to win the Premier League title the following season.

Rooney believes a similar turnaround is possible under Alonso if the squad responds positively to the new manager’s philosophy and direction.