Manchester United stands a chance to secure a Champions League spot even from the sixth position, courtesy of a UEFA regulation.
The current season has proven to be lackluster for Man United, with the team positioned sixth after suffering 12 defeats.
- What Bruno Fernandes has said about Amorim as he agrees to join Liverpool
- Cristiano Ronaldo went ‘full WrestleMania mode’ as he was shown a red card for elbow strike
- Man Utd ‘robbed’ as footage reveals Liverpool got lucky with referee decision
Erik ten Hag’s initial season brought optimism to Old Trafford, highlighted by a Carabao Cup victory and a fourth-place finish that ushered the team back into the Champions League.
However, the current season has deviated from expectations, leaving ten Hag’s future uncertain, especially with the new minority stakeholders, Ineos, evaluating his leadership capabilities.
With the team trailing by 11 points from the fourth and fifth spots and only seven games remaining, the prospect of Champions League football seems dim for United supporters.
Nonetheless, an alteration in the Champions League’s structure might provide an unexpected opportunity for United.
The upcoming 2024-25 Champions League season will debut a ‘Swiss-style’ format in its initial phase, expanding the field from 32 to 36 teams.
With this expansion, the top two domestic leagues based on UEFA’s coefficient rankings will send five teams each, determined by their league standings.
Currently, Germany and Italy are poised to benefit from this rule. However, England’s strong performance in European contests, with five out of six teams reaching the quarter-finals, could shift the advantage to the Premier League.
If the Premier League secures an additional Champions League slot, Manchester United could qualify under special conditions.
For instance, if West Ham secures fifth place and clinches the Europa League title, which assures a Champions League berth, the sixth-place team would also qualify for the Champions League.
Presently, West Ham is seventh, trailing Aston Villa by 12 points, making this scenario seem improbable.
Moreover, if a team already in the top four wins the Champions League or Europa League, the extra qualification spot would not be reassigned further down the league.
