From the 2024/25 season, Premier League clubs who finish outside of the top four could still be able to qualify for the Champions League, under new proposals.
Manchester United are currently outside challengers for a top four finish this season. And while Manchester City are flying right now, who knows what the future holds in the next few years. Europe’s elite competition is poised for a big shake-up under revamped plans that will see the number of teams increased from 32 and 36, all competing in one league table. Each club would play 10 matches, an increase of the six group games already in place, with the top 16 clubs progressing through to the knock-out phases.
MEN Sport runs through the new plans and how they could impact United, City and the rest of the clubs involved.
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Who will fill these four added spots?
These four extra places will be decided in three ways. The first place will be given to the fifth-best performing league in Europe.
For example, if this was Ligue 1, an extra Champions League spot would be handed to the team that finished outside the usual top three qualifying positions. The second spot will be decided via the more traditional ‘champions’ play-off pathway.
What about the final two?
The final two spots will be handed to two clubs with the highest UEFA 'coefficient’ ranking who finished outside the usual qualification places in their league. This ranking is determined by historical performance over the past five years, which could give Europe’s underperforming big-hitters a better chance of qualifying.
The caveat is that the club must finish in the first spot outside of the qualification places. So in the Premier League, United would have to be in fifth to be in contention.
If United were granted qualification, and if Arsenal had the next best coefficient ranking and finished sixth, they would also qualify. However, if, say, West Ham finished fifth but didn’t earn qualification based on their coefficient score, United would not be able to qualify if they finished sixth and had a better coefficient ranking.
Will these proposals go through?
As of now, these are merely plans put forward by the European Club Association (ECA), in effect clubs’ ‘lobbying body’. But UEFA are said to be very much in favour of the plans, and are tipped to pass the proposals during a vote in May, but proposals wouldn't be enforced until 2024/25.
Why are UEFA in favour of it?
In essence, it helps bring all of the top European leagues closer together. For instance, on the final day of the season, United may be more interested in how Napoli fare against Roma in Serie A rather than whether Arsenal can secure their top four status, because of coefficient rankings. It also gives UEFA more leverage with sponsorships if bigger sides are in the competition more often.
Isn’t this just another version of a Super League?
While those in favour of the proposals are quick to distance themselves from it, many have argued the new plans are a watered down version of the Super League proposals put forward last year. The main difference between the two is that the ECA's plans do not operate a closed-shop policy.
On Tuesday, PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi — who opted against entering his club into the controversial Super League breakaway — doubled down on his stance. Speaking at the ECA General Assembly he said: “We think about the future, we see the joint venture, who believe in our UEFA club competition.
“I think there’s big potential there. We are very excited about what we are doing and what we are going to do. Everybody was against it (Super League). The fans, the media, small and big clubs.
“I don’t think there is potential that they (Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the three clubs still technically ‘in’ the Super League) can do something because we are here united.”
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