Guus Hiddink wrote off Chelsea's chances of reaching the top four following the 1-1 draw with Stoke.
The Blues were leading though Bertrand Traore's strike and five minutes from picking up a fourth straight win to maintain their late surge towards the Champions League spots.
However Mame Biram Diouf's equaliser earned Stoke a draw, and left Hiddink admitting fourth place looks beyond them now.
"Yet in December we were near the relegation zone, so get to the middle of the table and now have a beautiful March and April to look forward to with the Champions League and the FA Cup would be nice."
Hiddink also insisted referee Mark Clattenburg missed a "clear penalty" for his side in the second half.
Marc Muniesa went unpunished after his challenge from behind knocked Oscar down in the area at Stamford Bridge, the incident coming before Diouf's equaliser.
Hiddink, who could not hide his frustration at dropping two points, says Clattenburg clearly got the decision wrong.
"I think we started the first half a little bit sloppy, but after 10 or 15 minutes we got into the game," he told Sky Sports. "This is a decent team to play in Stoke.
"I think rather decisive, although they had some chances, was the not-given penalty on Oscar in the second half.
"If you see it on the television it is a clear penalty. If it is outside the box all the referees will give it, but inside the referees have fear to do so.
"I think that was decisive. Then they got some courage out of that, threatened us and got the equaliser. It is of course frustrating, they pushed on in the late part of the game, and it is frustrating of course."
Hiddink started Traore up front at Stamford Bridge, and was rewarded as the 20-year-old scored a fourth goal in five games, while resting Diego Costa, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas ahead of the Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The Dutchman praised Traore for his superb first-half strike, and said the youngsters being blooded through at Chelsea are encouraged to express themselves.
"They have to step up on the podium which is not easy, because the nerves also play a role, and that's why it's good to see this goal," he added.
"I don't care if they make errors, but I like to see them play brave. That's not always easy. It's encouraging to see some youngsters."
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