Erik ten Hag warns Champions League qualification is ‘very important’ for Manchester United’s ‘financial power’ as they prepare for pivotal clash with high-flying Aston Villa
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Erik ten Hag has warned missing out on Champions League qualification will severely impact Manchester United’s ability to spend on new recruits in the summer.
The Dutchman guided the Red Devils to Europe’s premier competition last season during his first-year at the club, but was helpless to stop United being embarrassingly eliminated at the group stage this season.
A difficult first half of the current campaign has left United nine-points adrift of the top-four, with a trip to Villa Park on Sunday giving them a chance of closing the gap to the teams above.
Finishing fifth in the Premier League could also be enough to qualify for the Champions League due to new rules but is dependant on circumstances.
However, Ten Hag has explained should United fail to make it into next season’s edition of the competition then they will have less ‘financial power’ to bring in new players.
Erik ten Hag has warned missing out on Champions League qualification will severely impact Manchester United’s ability to spend on new recruits
United embarrassingly crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage this season
United will miss out on an additional £100million that is on offer if they fail to qualify for the Champions League
The 13-time Premier League champions are already trying to balance Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and failed to bring in any January reinforcements despite Ten Hag being dealt several injury blows this season.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa, Ten Hag said: ‘It’s very important to play Champions League, that is clear.
‘We don’t even have to discuss this. What exactly is the impact in this moment? I don’t know.
‘You have more financial power when you achieve the Champions League and that is our target, absolutely.’
United were eliminated from this season’s competition after losing to Bayern Munich in their final group game
Ten Hag stressed the financial importance of qualifying for Europe’s top competition
Missing out on qualifying for the competition that United have won three times in their history would see them lose out on a bonus exceeding £100m that is on offer to competing sides.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s multi-billion investment in the club is likely to restock some of the recruitment kitty, but new cash must comply with FFP guidelines that United and other Premier League sides are bound by.
Ten Hag also needs to prove himself as the best candidate for the Old Trafford job with Ratcliffe and his INEOS team taking over sporting control at the club from the Glazers.
A second consecutive finish inside the Champions League spots would show improvement is being made on the pitch despite the problems raised this season.
