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Swansea City may have reached 40 points, but there is no room for let-up - especially in light of Chelsea’s Capital One Cup triumph last weekend.

The Blues’ win opens up an extra space for European qualification via the Premier League and, depending what happens in the FA Cup, as many as seven teams could qualify for Europe based on league position.

So what exactly do Swansea City need to happen to return to Europe a year after a roller-coaster ride that ended cruelly at the last-32 stage against Napoli.

Swans' remarkable Europa League run ends in Naples

Here are the various permutations Garry Monk’s men need to be aware of...

SO WHO QUALIFIES FOR EUROPE?

The top four teams in the Premier League go into the Champions League, with the first three straight into the group stages and the fourth entering a play-off.

There are three Europa League places given to clubs playing in the English system - one goes to the fifth-placed finisher in the Premier League, one goes to the winner of the Capital One Cup and one goes to the winner of the FA Cup.

WHAT DOES CHELSEA’S WIN OVER SPURS MEAN?

It has changed the picture of European qualification this season.

Because Jose Mourinho’s side will qualify easily for the Champions League, their Europa League spot for winning the Capital One Cup will fall to the next-highest ranked team in the Premier League - nominally sixth-place. It won’t go to the cup runners-up.

Currently the beneficiaries are Southampton, who are on 46 points and six clear of Swansea in eighth. There are 11 games of the season left.

(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

WHAT ABOUT THE FA CUP?

This is where things are slightly more complicated.

If the FA Cup winners finish in the top four in the Premier League, the runners-up would qualify for the Europa League. That was the case last year when Hull, defeated by Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal, went in.

However if the two finalists each finish in the top four of the Premier League - as is still possible with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool left in the competition - the Europa League position would go to seventh place in the Premier League.

Also if the winner of the FA Cup finishes fifth in the Premier League, thereby qualifying twice for the Europa League, it would be the seventh-placed finisher in the Premier League that would take the extra place in Europe’s second-tier competition.

ANY OTHER COMPLICATIONS?

Yes. If Arsenal win the Champions League, but finish outside the top four, they will go straight in at the group stages of next season’s elite club competition at the expense of the fourth-placed Premier League club, who will instead go into the Europa League.

This happened in 2012 when Chelsea won the Champions League and Tottenham finished fourth.

It is extremely unlikely to happen again this year though, given the Gunners are facing a 3-1 deficit to Monaco after the first leg of their last-16 tie.

(Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

WHAT IF EVERTON WIN THE EUROPA LEAGUE?

This one’s more simple. They would go into next season’s Champions League as a reward, but they would do so as an extra English side. Thus there would be five Premier League teams, the top four plus Everton.

SWANS’ CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION

Given those permutations, just what are the chances of Swansea finishing high enough to qualify for Europe?

Well, Spurs and Southampton are the two clubs above them they would have to reel in.

They are four and six points better off than the Swans respectively and Spurs also have a game in hand.

It is a tall order but the Swans can make headway with a win at Tottenham on Wednesday night, which would take them to within just a point of Spurs.

poll loading Do you think the Swans can qualify for Europe this season? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Yes, they are in good form There is an outside chance but they must beat Spurs No, I think it is a step too far

Spurs also face a trip to Old Trafford and host Manchester City - games in which they could drop points.

Southampton have to travel to Chelsea and Man City before the end of the campaign and Swansea’s two main rivals actually meet at the end of April in what could be a pivotal clash.

The Swans have some tough fixtures left themselves - after Spurs comes Liverpool at the Liberty. A trip to Arsenal and the visit of Man City are also left.

ANYTHING ELSE?

The only other way to qualify for European competition? The Fair Play league.

The three highest placed national associations in the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking will each automatically gain an extra berth for the Europa League.

After five red cards and 38 yellows this season, the Swans can forget about that...