Chelsea facing crucial weekend in top five hunt

LONDON - Chelsea face what looks like a must-win game at home to Everton on Saturday in their quest to finish in the Premier Leagues top five and return to the Champions League next season.

Enzo Marescas team have struggled for consistency with only two wins from their last five league games leaving them in sixth place with five games remaining.

With top-five rivals Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend, Chelsea have the chance to bolster their claim.

Dropped points against an in-form Everton, however, could leave Chelsea in danger of missing out on the Champions League for a third successive season.

To say that this season has already been a good season compared to the last two, it does not mean we wont try to finish top five, the Italian told reporters.

Its our target. Our target is Champions League. We are going to try to finish in the right way. The players are working hard every day to bring this club where it has to be.

Chelsea will be without right back Malo Gusto against Everton after he limped off in the win against Fulham.

Malo is injured but it does not look like an important injury. He is already running and doing this outside but he will not be available for tomorrow, Maresca said.

Chelsea earned three vital points with a comeback win at Fulham last week with Pedro Neto netting a sensational stoppage time winner -- his fourth league goal of the season.

Maresca said he wants to see more goals from the Portuguese winger signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

I think Pedro helps us a lot, he said. I think overall he is doing well with us. I think he has scored four or five goals in