Wayne Rooney believes Chelsea's failure to secure European football next season could work in their favour, predicting the club will emerge as a genuine title contender under incoming manager Xabi Alonso.

A 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season ended the Blues' hopes of a European place, with the Black Cats claiming the last Europa League spot at Chelsea's expense. The west London club finished 10th — one point and two positions behind Brighton, who secured a Conference League berth.

A familiar low point with a precedent for recovery

It is only the third time since 1995-96 that Chelsea have ended a top-flight campaign in 10th place or lower. Yet history offers some encouragement: the club finished in an identical position at the end of the 2015-16 season before going on to win the Premier League title the following year under Antonio Conte.

The season itself proved turbulent — Chelsea dismissed both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior during the campaign. They had opened the year as reigning Club World Cup champions but never built the consistency to challenge for European qualification.

Chelsea did feature in the Champions League this term, navigating the league phase before suffering one of their heaviest-ever two-legged European defeats — an 8-2 aggregate loss to holders Paris St-Germain in the last 16.

Rooney's verdict on Alonso era

Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Podcast, Rooney suggested that playing only once a week, combined with Alonso's arrival, sets Chelsea up for a strong campaign.