Manchester United may still be able to secure a spot in next season's Champions League even if they finish sixth in the Premier League owing to a revision in the UEFA rule book, according to a report.
Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils currently trail fifth-placed Aston Villa by 11 points with just seven games remaining in the season.
While they have displayed flashes of brilliance under the Dutchman this term, much of Man Utd's performance has been underwhelming, evidenced by their early exit from the Champions League group stage and failure to defend their League Cup title.
Yet, despite their poor form, there remains a slender possibility for the Red Devils to secure Champions League qualification even if they fail to secure a top-five finish.
Man Utd Find Hope in UEFA Rule Amendment
The upcoming season of the Champions League will witness significant changes, including the elimination of group stages and the introduction of a single table format with an expanded team roster.
Consequently, UEFA is poised to allocate additional slots to certain countries in light of these modifications.
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The UEFA co-efficient system has positioned England alongside Italy for an additional Champions League place, shifting the traditional top-four qualification dynamic.
The significance of this situation lies in the UEFA rule, which traditionally allocates Champions League spots based on domestic league finishes rather than the winners of European competitions.
This rule alteration could potentially benefit Tottenham Hotspur or Aston Villa over Manchester United, though, with Spurs currently holding fourth place and Villa only behind on goal difference.
However, there remains a slim chance for Manchester United to secure a Champions League spot, even if they finish sixth. This possibility hinges on West Ham United securing fifth place in the Premier League and winning the Europa League, according to The Sun.
The Hammers are currently seventh in the league table and 12 points off fifth-place Aston Villa, so at present this looks extremely unlikely.
In addition, David Moyes's side would also have to overcome Bayer Leverkusen, who have been in jaw-dropping form in the Europa League this season.
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In theory, should the Hammers achieve fifth place and win the Europa League, this scenario also suggests that a team finishing seventh in the Premier League could secure Champions League qualification if both the winners of the Champions League and Europa League are English clubs that finish outside of the top four positions in the Premier League.
However, the likelihood of this scenario playing out in the current season is also slim, given that Manchester City and Arsenal are contending for the English domestic title.
Nevertheless, there is also the potential for as many as 11 English teams to qualify for European competitions, but this would necessitate a clean sweep by Premier League teams across all three European tournaments, coupled with significant changes in the Premier League standings.
The Red Devils will resume league action on Sunday when they head to the Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth.
Devesh Jaganath
