'Chelsea will finish in third' - Monaco's all-time top scorer in European completions predicts

Monaco's all-time top scorer in European competitions with fourteen goals, Victor Ikpeba has predicted that Chelsea will finish in the top three positions in this season's Premier League despite uncertainty surrounding the club.

The world champions need to be sold after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Chelsea players have been able to put aside their off the pitch problems in recent matches, winning four from a possible five and are through to the final of the Emirates FA Cup.

Ikpeba noted that the Blues struggled to beat West Ham United in their last match and complained about the penalty awarded to the Stamford Bridge outfit when Romelu Lukaku was fouled by Craig Dawson.

Speaking on SuperSport's Monday Night Football, monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com, Ikpeba said : "Uncertainty is surrounding the club, it is the atmosphere, the new owners and the new buyers.

"Against West Ham it was a very soft penalty given in favour of Chelsea, I saw the contact with Lukaku, that shouldn't have been given.

"West Ham have no depth in the squad. Moyes has done brilliantly well, he deserves a lot of praises to be in the semifinal of the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt.

"They have a chance to beat the German side, who surprisingly defeated mighty Barcelona."

The former African Footballer of the Year does not see the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United catching up with Chelsea in the Premier League standings.

Chelsea, with a game in hand, are third in the provisional table, five points ahead of Arsenal and seven separating them from the other north London club.

"Chelsea are five points of Arsenal and still have a game in hand. Nothing changes, Chelsea will finish in third," he added.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com