They do, but not for the reason you think
Chelsea won the CL last season but were given the chance to defend it despite finishing outside the top 4
This season they won the EL but are not going to be given the chance to defend it because of finishing in the top 4
Does that make sense? No it doesn't. But, ladies and gentlemen, here is Chewbacca, a Wookiee from the planet Endor. But Wookiees live on Kashyyyk and since Kashyyyk isn't full of Ewoks you must find UEFA innocent
Mate we don't go straight into the CL group stages because we won Europa, we will only do that if we finish 3rd

