Who will take the straightest path to the stages of Champions League and Europa League? Who will have to fight for entry into these competitions? And how can "Chelsea" still end up in the European tournament? This article, shared by the Lithuanian manutd.lt website, will help you answer these questions.
Ways of qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League:
There are several ways in which Premier League clubs can qualify for the Champions League or Europa League.
- Premier League position. The winners secure a direct path to the Champions League stage. Teams that finish in second and third place also receive direct tickets to the group stage. The fourth-place team allows for a play-off in the final knockout round, although at this moment we cannot be 100% certain about it. There are also three additional positions for the Europa League playoffs, which will be awarded to cup winners (e.g., FA Cup) and teams that finish slightly lower.
- Champions League triumph. Guarantees a place in the group stage of the upcoming Champions League season.
- Europa League triumph. Guarantees a place in the final knockout stage of the Champions League, but can also secure a spot in the group stage.
- FA Cup triumph. Guarantees a place in the group stage of the Europa League.
- Capital One Cup triumph. Guarantees a place in the third round of the Europa League playoffs.
Restricted number of places:
No more than five Premier League teams can compete in the Champions League and no more than three clubs can compete in the Europa League.
Which teams have already secured places in European battles for the next season?
- "Leicester City" - secured at least the third place in the championship, which means that the "Foxes" will be playing in the Champions League next season.
- "Manchester City" - won the Capital One Cup and can be certain to have a place in the third round of the Europa League playoffs.
Why does the fourth position in the Premier League not guarantee a place in the Champions League knockout rounds?
For that to happen, "Manchester City" would have to win the Champions League, and "Liverpool" - the Europa League, and none of these teams would finish in the top four. In such a case, the team finishing in fourth place would move on to the group stage of the Europa League.
How could "Manchester City" affect "Liverpool's" possible entry into the Champions League through the Europa League?
If "Liverpool" reaches the semi-finals of the Europa League, they would have the opportunity to compete in the final round of the Champions League playoffs, of course, only if the "Reds" win the tournament. However, if the winner of the Champions League qualifies for the Champions League through their local competitions (e.g., "City," Madrid's "Atletico," Madrid's "Real," or Munich's "Bayern") and finishes third or higher in their leagues, then the Europa League winner receives a direct ticket to the Champions League stage.
How did the Capital One Cup affect the Premier League teams and their qualification for European tournaments?
"Manchester City" has already secured a place in the third round of the Europa League playoffs. However, if "City" secures a place in the Champions League or Europa League based on their position in the tournament table of the Premier League or by winning in the Champions League, the spot of the "City" in the Europa League playoffs will be given to the team finishing in the highest position that has not secured the right to compete in European competitions.
How will the FA Cup affect the teams?
FA Cup winners will qualify for the group stage of the Europa League unless they qualify for Europe in another way. This means that "Crystal Palace," "Everton," or "Watford" would enter the group stage, but if "Manchester United" wins the FA Cup but secures a high enough position in the Premier League to compete in the Champions League or Europa League then the place of the FA Cup winner would be given to the team finishing in the highest position that has not secured the right to compete in European tournaments.
How does all of this look according to the Premier League positions?
Winners:
Qualify for the group stage of the Champions League and also enter the first basket.
Second-place winners:
Qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.
Third-place winners:
Qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.
Fourth place:
Qualify for the final knockout stage of the Champions League, unless "Manchester City" and "Liverpool" respectively win the Champions League and Europa League and both teams finish outside the top four or "Manchester City" wins the Champions League and finishes fourth in the Premier League.
Fifth place:
Qualify for the group stage of the Europa League, unless "Manchester City" wins the Champions League and finishes fifth.
Sixth place:
Qualify for the third round of the Europa League playoffs, if "Manchester City" wins the Champions League or finishes in the top four of the Premier League.
Seventh place:
Qualify for the Europa League playoffs if "Manchester United" wins the FA Cup and finishes in the top four, and "Manchester City" ends the season in the top five.
Eighth place:
Qualify for the Europa League playoffs if "Liverpool" wins the Europa League and finishes seventh, "Manchester United" wins the FA Cup and finishes in the top four, and "Manchester City" secures a place in the Champions League.
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