Manchester United supporters find themselves once again grappling with the prospect of missing out on European competition – notably the elite UEFA Champions League, a scenario that has become all too familiar in recent years.
Under the helm of Erik Ten Hag, the team currently languishes in sixth place in the Premier League standings, trailing fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and fifth-placed Aston Villa by a daunting 11-point margin.
The challenge of closing the gap on their rivals is growing increasingly daunting for Manchester United, who have stumbled in their recent league outings, failing to secure victories in their last three matches.
With only seven games remaining in the season, the prospect of clinching a top-four finish seems to be slipping further out of reach for the Red Devils.
How can Manchester United qualify for the UEFA Champions League even if they finish in 6th position?
Despite their struggles, Manchester United could still salvage a Champions League spot, albeit through an unlikely avenue.
Thanks to a UEFA rule change, which expanded the Champions League and allocated additional slots to leagues based on their UEFA coefficient rankings, there is a glimmer of hope for the team.
According to the revised regulations, the two leagues with the highest UEFA coefficients will earn an extra berth in the prestigious club competition.
Presently, England and Italy are poised to claim these additional spots, with the fifth-placed team in the Premier League set to benefit.
However, this scenario would most likely favor either Tottenham or Aston Villa who are currently occupying the fifth and fourth place respectively.
Nevertheless, Manchester United could still secure a Champions League berth even if they finish sixth, provided certain conditions are met.
Manchester United’s hope is on the shoulder of ex-manager David Moyes
Their fate hinges significantly on the performance of former manager David Moyes and his current team, West Ham United.
For Manchester United to seize this opportunity, West Ham must clinch fifth place in the Premier League and emerge victorious in the Europa League, while United finishes in sixth position.
This would open up a pathway for Ten Hag’s men to secure Champions League qualification for the upcoming season.
Currently, West Ham trails Aston Villa by 12 points in the league standings and sits just one point behind Manchester United in seventh place.
While the task ahead for Moyes’ side is challenging, with a formidable opponent in undefeated Bayer Leverkusen looming in the Europa League, the prospect of an English club winning the competition could potentially result in a European qualification spot open for an English side.
In the event that both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League are won by English clubs outside the Premier League top four, Manchester United’s hopes would hinge on West Ham’s ability to leapfrog either Aston Villa or Tottenham in the league standings, which is highly unlikely.
However, with Manchester City and Arsenal likely to secure top-four finishes, the road to Champions League qualification remains clouded with uncertainty for Ten Hag’s side.
