I don't sure with Chelsea performance in this season will get Champion League spot standings because their performance inconsistency and unpredictable result against mediocre teams with losses many points. Current points left with Arsenal on the fourth standings is 12 points and its not easy for Chelsea if can return to consistent performance. Have two consecutives winning matches in Premier League can't guarantee with promising performance for Chelsea on upcoming match Fulham exactly busy schedule match have to play on FA Cup 3rd round against Preston and few days later will face Middlesbrough on EFL Cup semifinal first leg.
Pochettino must make rotation on upcoming two matches because if push main players have to play on first minutes will make them loss opportunity in domestic league.
Facing a fairly busy schedule might make Chelsea's position in the English Premier League even more difficult because they will face Liverpool after the second leg of the League Cup semi-final, especially without a busy schedule Chelsea always face difficulties in rotating their players and also they often lose to weak teams so I quite agree it is very difficult for Chelsea to get a place in the champions league next season.
Chelsea is 12 points behind Arsenal who are in fourth place and the most difficult thing for Chelsea to be in the top four is because they are inconsistent, their current two-game winning streak is very likely not to continue when they face Fulham or Liverpool in the English Premier League match.
My prediction is that Pochettino will be very focused on the League Cup semi-final match because that is one of their chances to win the title this season, and facing Middlesbrough Chelsea should be able to overcome it to get to the final and face Fulham or Liverpool who will also compete in the semi-final.
After Chelsea's performance in the club's first league encounter of the season which was played against Liverpool, I was of the opinion that the team have significantly improved from the poor Chelsea side of last season that didn't finish in a spot that guarantees European football this season but after 20 matchweeks, Chelsea are currently not even in top six of the English Premier League table.
Focusing more in the league cup doesn't guarantee that Chelsea will win as they're are still few other strong English Premier League clubs left in the competition. The club manager I know is a good manager with great managerial abilities but he must significantly improve the general performance of Chelsea in other to continue as the club manager