Why a sixth-place finish could see Man Utd qualify for the UEFA Champions League after FIFA changed the rules.
Erik Ten Hag enjoyed a promising first season at Old Trafford, ending the club’s trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and earning a return to the Champions League with a fourth-place finish.
However, the 2023/24 season is a bad season for Man United when Erik ten Hag’s team is currently only sixth in the Premier League rankings after round 32 and has lost 12 matches, failing in the Champions League. League after being eliminated from the group stage, continued to be eliminated early in the Carabao Cup.
With 11 points behind opponents in the 4th and 5th positions (areas with places to participate in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League) on the rankings when the Premier League has only 7 matches left, Red Devils fans are almost has given up hope of watching his beloved team play in the C1 Cup next season.
However, changing the competition format could suddenly bring Man United a lifeline.
The upcoming 2024/25 season will be the first season in Europe’s highest club level tournament to have a new “Swiss-style” competition period, with 36 teams participating instead of 32 teams like previous seasons.
Along with the above expansion, the two domestic leagues in the top 5 European leagues with the highest UEFA coefficients will have five teams qualify based on the final position they achieved in their league.
Currently, Germany and Italy hold those positions, but with 5 out of 6 English clubs in the quarter-finals of UEFA competitions this season, England will likely replace Germany or Italy. to get that 5th spot. If the Premier League is awarded another spot to participate in the C1 Cup, then some special circumstances will help Man United qualify, despite only finishing 6th in the Premier League this year.
If West Ham finishes 5th but wins the 2023/24 Europa League, the 6th placed team will qualify for the Champions League. Because the team that won the Europa League recently will have an official spot in the Champions League next season.
West Ham are currently 7th in the table and 12 points behind Aston Villa in 5th place, so this now looks extremely unlikely. However, the Premier League is always attractive with extremely surprising results. The tournament has not ended yet, and nothing is certain.
