Chelsea, United reach Champions League

LEICESTER, England (AP) — Six months ago, when the coronavirus outbreak was a distant concern for English football, some things seemed more certain in the Premier League.

Manchester United would struggle to break into the Champions League places while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remained in charge. Leicester was a team revived under Brendan Rodgers, primed for a return to Europe’s elite competition.

Who was to doubt that, with 14 points separating second-place Leicester from United in fifth in January?

But this was a season like no other. By the time it ended Sunday — in July rather than May due to the pandemic-enforced hiatus in play — United was the team in third and Leicester four points behind in fifth.

A 2-0 victory for Solskjaer’s side in a final day showdown between the Champions League contenders completed a remarkable turnaround for United and capitulation for Leicester.

“They have taken on so many things, we’ve had our ups and downs,” said Solskjaer, whose side dropped to 14th in October. “It is a wonderful achievement by everyone.”

While United could make 100 million euros ($115 million) from the Champions League after a one-season absence, Leicester won’t make half that in the Europa League and could struggle to keep the squad together.

CHELSEA 2, WOLVERHAMPTON 0

LONDON (AP) — Mason Mount sent Chelsea into next season’s Champions League with a sumptuous free kick and an assist for Olivier Giroud in a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton on the final day of the Premier League on Sunday.

Mount’s curling strike from just outside the area put Chelsea ahead in first-half stoppage time at Stamford Bridge, before the 21-year-old England international teed up Giroud for a fine finish less than three minutes later.

Chelsea sealed a fourth-place finish in Frank Lampard’s first season in charge, and joined champion Liverpool, second-place Manchester City and third-place Manchester United in the Champions League.

The 33-year-old Giroud became the oldest man to score in five straight Premier League starts, swiping that record from Leicester’s Jamie Vardy.

Lampard said qualifying for the Champions League will boost Chelsea’s recruitment drive that has already seen winger Hakim Ziyech arrive from Ajax and striker Timo Werner join from Leipzig.

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz reportedly could join Chelsea this summer, too.