Alan Pardew believes his Newcastle side can exploit Chelsea’s fixture pile-up and snatch fifth place from the Champions League and FA Cup semi-finalists.
The Toon boss feels his Magpies could even lose when they visit Stamford Bridge on May 2 and still pip the west Londoners in the fight for European qualification.
The reason for Pardew’s optimism is that Chelsea have at least eight fixtures between now and the season’s end on May 13.
And that could increase to TEN if they beat Spurs in their FA Cup semi-final clash next Sunday and reach the Champions League Final.
Newcastle, by contrast, have just six games left, with the next two - Bolton on Monday and Stoke on April 16 - are at home.
Pardew, whose side won at Swansea on Good Friday, said: “The whole period for Chelsea, more so than us, is crucial.
"We can do it without that Chelsea game. I mean, we could lose that game at Stamford Bridge and still finish above them.
“They have two semi-finals games against Barcelona in the Champions League and Spurs in the FA Cup, and then maybe an FA Cup Final on May 5, when they are scheduled to play a league game at Liverpool.
“They’re being pulled in a lot of directions so I don’t think for us, particularly, where we finish will come down to that game between us.
“What happens to us will be down to our own results and, actually, will be about Chelsea’s other results.
“We’re in the lap of the gods a bit because Chelsea have a big determination on things.
“You also have the Liverpool-Everton FA Cup semi that is going to impact on it [European qualification]. It would, of course, suit our European hopes if Liverpool won that tie.
“Everton could get through to the final and I still think the rule needs to be looked at because, if we finish higher than them in the Premier League, that has to be better than the runners-up in the FA Cup qualifying for the Europa League.
"If Everton win the FA Cup, I'd say, 'Fair enough.'"
But Pardew insisted he would have mixed feelings if Newcastle’s fine season did not result in a Europa Cup slot.
He said: “There will be one side of me quite pleased if we don’t qualify for Europe, because it will mean we can attack next season without having the extra pressure of Europa League.
“Having said that, the other side of me would welcome it because it would take the club forward, bond some of the players to the club, and it would be an achievement of sorts. We could also perhaps add to the squad with the extra finance we’d get.”
Looking ahead to the Bolton game, Pardew credits opposite number Owen Coyle for extracting the positives from the trauma of Fabrice Muamba's brush with death after suffering cardiac arrest during a game last month.
Pardew said: “Sometimes, situations like that can harness the group.
“Owen Coyle has been brilliant – he’s a lovely man and a fine manager.
“This time last year he was being talked about as manager of the year, so it just shows how quickly things can turn. But I’m pleased he has had some good results lately.”
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