Manchester United could reach Champions League finishing SIXTH due to UEFA rule change
A drastic change in UEFA rules could allow Manchester United to qualify for the Champions League, even by finishing sixth in the Premier League.
Finishing in the top four could be a bridge too far for United now, which is 11 points behind fourth place Tottenham with seven games left.
But that may not even matter in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next season, as UEFA prepares to expand the competition.
The Champions League is ready for undergo some major changes next season with no more group stages, a big table and more teams included, which means that UEFA is prepared to distribute additional places to specific countries.
As England is one of the two countries with the best UEFA coefficient, along with Italy, a position as low as fifth could allow clubs to qualify for Europe's elite competition.
However, are United struggling to finish even in fifth place, with Tottenham or Aston Villa they will benefit there; Furthermore, they must rely on another club to help them.
Yeah western ham If they win the Europa League this season, United would qualify for the Champions League, so if they don't finish fifth in the Premier League, their league position wouldn't matter.
It would mean another spot in Europe's elite competition would be freed up, going to the next highest-placed team in the domestic league.
And if United finish the season in sixth place, where they currently sit, that would see Erik ten HagThe men qualify for the Champions League, albeit under very specific conditions.
In theory, next season could see a club as low as seventh qualify for the competition, but it would depend on the Champions League and Europa League winners being English clubs finishing fifth and sixth.
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There is almost no chance of that happening this season with city of manchester and Arsenal They are the only clubs left in the competition and both sit comfortably in the top four.
However, West Ham manager David Moyes could indirectly give his former team United a big boost by winning the Europa League, but his team has a tough battle in Bayer Leverkusen to face in the quarterfinals.
Xabi AlonsoGermany's men are currently undefeated this season and are on course to lift their first Bundesliga title before Bayern Munich although Harry Kane be in Amazing form in debut season at the Allianz-Arena.
The conditions also depend on West Ham finishing fifth in the Premier League, which seems unlikely at best considering they are even further behind United.
The Hammers are currently seventh in the table and 12 points behind fifth place. Aston Villain addition to registering a negative goal difference this season (-4), while Unai EmeryThe men have a goal difference of plus-17.
United played in the Champions League this season, but had one of their worst performances in the competition as they were eliminated from the group stage.
The Red Devils only won one of six group stage matches, which included losses to Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
