Manchester United and Spurs are confirmed to meet in the Europa League final later this month, opening up the possibility of a never-before-seen scenario for the Premier League next season.
United triumphed over Athletic Club with a commanding 7-1 aggregate victory across two matches, while Spurs secured a 5-1 win against Bodo/Glimt, setting the stage for an all-English final in Bilbao on Wednesday, May 21.
Despite both teams experiencing disappointing domestic seasons, they will compete for the opportunity to claim the title in Europe’s secondary club competition and earn a place in the Champions League for the following season.
It has been recently announced that England will have at least five representatives in the Champions League next year, as the Premier League was awarded an additional spot, one of two European Performance Spots (EPS) allocated, following Arsenal’s victory over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
How many Premier League sides will play in next season’s Champions League?
The top four has now expanded to a top five, and with both United and Spurs reaching the final, the Premier League will feature six teams in the Champions League next season, a historic achievement. Currently, with three matches left, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Chelsea are all set to participate in the Champions League next year, alongside either United or Spurs.
Nottingham Forest, holding the sixth position, will secure a Europa League spot. The outcome of the FA Cup final between City and Crystal Palace will also be crucial, as the winner will gain a Europa League berth. According to ESPN, if Palace triumphs, they will claim the spot; however, if City wins, the position will be awarded to the team finishing seventh.
Newcastle has qualified for the Conference League due to their Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool, but if they and City end up in the top seven, the eighth-placed team (currently Bournemouth) will qualify for Europe’s third-tier tournament next season.
Eight teams are assured of European competition next year, but with Chelsea aiming for the Conference League and various league finish scenarios to consider, there could potentially be nine or ten teams if Chelsea wins the final on May 28 but does not secure a European spot.
Both United and Spurs will have equal preparation time for the final, as Ange Postecoglou’s team will face Aston Villa on the same evening as Chelsea versus United on Friday, May 16.
The winner will receive £10.95 million in prize money, while the runner-up will earn £5.90 million.
Leave a Reply