Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says Champions League qualification is a must.

Cech feels this season would be a wasted if the Blues do not qualify for European football's elite club competition next season.

He said: "If we don't qualify for the Champions League it is a year lost in the progression of the club.

"You always have years when you go through the transition in the team and the team needs to be rebuilt. Or you have changes in terms of managers and players.

"For a big club you can accept that the team does not win the league because it is in transition, but you can't afford to slip out of Champions League spots.

"The big teams are about the Champions League, and the importance is that it is much better than the Europa League."