Courtois - Talks Champions League and FA Cup hopes but I wouldn't count on it.

Thibaut Courtois has spoken after the disappointing draw against Manchester United yesterday and believes that Chelsea should now focus on the Champions League and FA Cup from now on.

Chelsea find themselves seventeen points outside the top four and I think now we all agree that we have little choice. Four massive points dropped in a week has hit us hard and now we have to concentrate on finishing as high up as possible.

Courtois said:

"If you see how many points we are behind the top four it is difficult so we have to try for the top 7 or 8 but the most important thing is the FA Cup and Champions League and to try and reach the final."

I do have reservations on what he has said however because it could have a detrimental effect on our Premier League performances. For example, how many times have you seen the English clubs play a huge game in the Champions League and follow that up with a poor performance in the next game on Saturday/Sunday?

The Champions League is beyond us if we are totally honest. Well I say if we are honest, but we have seen the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich give the types of performances they have already this season. If we think that Chelsea would be able to cope with either of those sides right now then we are blind as well as stupid.

People will talk of the Chelsea spirit and will talk of the side that won the Champions League on the greatest night of the history of our club but that team was totally different to the one we watch week in, week out now, that team had leaders throughout the spine who could inspire everyone around them. We now have one of those leaders left and that's JT, the team is a far cry from what we had back then.

So the FA Cup is our only realistic chance of winning a trophy this season but we have been drawn to face Manchester City in the next round - just our luck this season. Being honest, I do not know what Chelsea side will turn up on the day. Will it be the side that took on the Arsenal and outplayed them or the team that turned up at Watford the week after? One thing is for sure, it's not going to be easy to beat them.

I get the impression that the reality of the disaster of this season will only really kick in if we go out in both competitions in the next round and we continue to paper over the cracks for the time being. If we beat City and PSG then everyone will be buzzing (rightly so) and will continue to do so. If we lose then the harsh reality will kick in which will have a knock on effect right through to the summer.

Chelsea fans know that anything is possible with a team full of leaders so your guess is as good as mine as to what will happen between now and the end of the season. I suggest we prepare ourselves for the worst!