A drastic rule change from UEFA could see Manchester United qualify for the Champions League – even by finishing sixth in the Premier League.
Finishing in the top four might be a bridge too far for United now, who sit 11 points off fourth-placed Tottenham with seven matches to go.
But that might not even matter in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next season with UEFA set to expand the competition.
The Champions League is set to undergo some major changes next season with no more group stages, one big table and more teams included, which means that UEFA are prepared to hand out additional places to specific countries.
As England are one of two countries with the best UEFA co-efficient, as well as Italy, a position as low as fifth could see clubs qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
However, are United struggling to finish even as high as fifth – with Tottenham or Aston Villa set to benefit there – they must further rely on another club to help them out.
If West Ham win the Europa League this season, United would qualify for the Champions League so if they didn’t finish fifth in the Premier League, their league position would not matter.
It would mean that another spot in Europe’s elite competition would be freed up, which would go to the next best-placed team in the domestic league.
And if United finish the season sixth, where they currently sit, that would see Erik ten Hag’s men qualify for the Champions League – albeit in very specific conditions.
In theory, next season could see a club as low as seventh qualify for the competition but it would rely on both the Champions League and Europa League winners to be English clubs who finish fifth and sixth.
There is next to no chance of that happening this season with Manchester City and Arsenal the only clubs left in the competition while both are comfortably in the top-four.
However, West Ham boss David Moyes could indirectly hand his former side United a huge boost by winning the Europa League – but his side have a tough battle in Bayer Leverkusen to face in the quarter-finals.
Xabi Alonso’s men are currently unbeaten this season and are on course to lift their first ever Bundesliga title ahead of Bayern Munich despite Harry Kane being in jaw-dropping form in his debut season at the Allianz Arena.
The conditions also rely on West Ham finishing fifth in the Premier League, which looks unlikely at best considering they are even further behind than United.
The Hammers are currently seventh in the table and 12 points off fifth-placed Aston Villa, as well as registering a negative goal difference this season (-4) whereas Unai Emery’s men have a goal difference of plus-17.
United did play in the Champions League this season but produced one of their worst performances in the competition as they crashed out of the group stage.
The Red Devils won just once in six matches in the group stage, which included defeats to Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
News Summary:
- Manchester United could reach Champions League by finishing SIXTH due to UEFA rule change
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