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It’s a strange feeling.

Normally in January every Chelsea match has implications for the top of the table. So it’s weird, with half a season to go and United nine points ahead, to sense that maybe this year it’s out of reach and that this week’s games are meaningless.

What, then, are Chelsea playing for on Wednesday? Some fans suggest that since the Premier League title appears to be lost, the club should focus more on the Champions League.

But there are two reasons why that’s a dangerous way of thinking.

The first is a logistical one: in what way could they devote more resources to the CL than the PL? With such a thin squad, there really is only one starting 11. Squad rotation is amongst the lowest in the Premier League. (See the chart at the end of the excellent Daily Mail article posted by Denver on Tuesday.)

The second is the new reality of the Premier League. Chelsea lie fifth. And the fact is that all four clubs ahead of them are solid, playing well and are in no mood to concede their right to next year’s Champions League. We all know about Manchester United and Arsenal. But Manchester City have the deepest and perhaps the most talented squad in England. And Tottenham are playing inspired football under Harry Rednapp this season.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have a thin squad which is playing very poorly.

Folks, there’s no assurance that the Blues will be playing in the Champions League next season. So every game from here on out is a real dogfight for a place in Europe’s richest competition.

It’s definitely not as exciting as challenging for the title. But Wednesday’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers is nevertheless crucial.

At first blush, this match should be winnable. Even though it’s away, Wolves have lost four of their ten home matches while conceding 15 goals. They’re bottom of the table. But we can expect a rugged match from Mick McCarthy’s men. And Chelsea may yet again have to contend with a pressing midfield, something that’s given them fits for two months.

On-loan Michael Mancienne won’t be playing against his own club. But a true villain will be: Stephen Hunt, who fractured Petr Cech’s skull as a Reading player, is likely to get the start for Wolves. For Chelsea, Ivanovic is likely to start with Bruma heading back to the bench.

It’s hard to tell what the atmosphere will be like at Molineux; a midweek game away to what is statistically the league’s worst club. But Chelsea can’t let that be an issue. They need to find inspiration from somewhere. There’s too much at stake.