The Premier League’s chance to secure an additional Champions League spot for the next season is at risk due to the early eliminations of Manchester United and Newcastle United from European competitions this season. Both teams finished at the bottom of their respective groups and are out of Europe altogether.
Starting from the upcoming season, the Champions League will expand to 36 teams, granting two European leagues extra places. This expansion potentially means that the fifth-placed team in the Premier League could automatically qualify for the Champions League.
However, UEFA determines which two leagues will benefit from these additional spots based on association coefficient rankings. These rankings consider the results of all European clubs in UEFA competitions.
In recent years, the Premier League has consistently secured an extra Champions League place due to its clubs’ strong performances in Europe. Nonetheless, this season’s eliminations of Manchester United and Newcastle have affected England’s position in the coefficient rankings. According to ESPN’s calculations:
UEFA COEFFICIENT POINTS AFTER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE
- Germany: 13.36
- Italy: 13.14
- England: 12.13
- Spain: 12.06
- France: 10.42
As per these calculations, England currently stands third behind Germany and Italy in the coefficient rankings, potentially jeopardizing the Premier League’s chance of securing an additional Champions League spot for next season.
