What Manchester United finishing sixth will mean for Europa League qualification
Man United’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are all but over after a draw against Burnley in the Premier League this weekend
Manchester United are fighting to qualify for the Europa League this season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds looked to be on their way towards a much-needed victory this weekend when Antony latched on to a loose pass to open the scoring at Old Trafford. However, a late penalty conceded by Andre Onana was converted by Zeki Amdouni to ensure the points were shared.
The result means that United can no longer catch fourth-placed Aston Villa this season after their 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Erik ten Hag’s men can still finish fifth but it is looking unlikely that will be enough to enter the Champions League.
UEFA is expanding the elite European competition next season and two of the extra places will be awarded to the teams who are ranked first and second in the coefficient standings. Italy has already secured one of the top spots, while Germany is almost guaranteed to bag the other ahead of England, who only have Villa left competing in Europe.
This means the Premier League’s European qualification spots will be decided in the same way they were last season. The top four in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League, fifth will automatically enter the Europa League with sixth set to join them or drop into the Europa Conference League.
For sixth place to be a Europa League spot, it would need the FA Cup winners to have not qualified for Europe through their league position. Of course, the FA Cup final shall be contested by United and fierce rivals Manchester City.
Therefore, if City are victorious at Wembley Stadium, sixth place will qualify for the Europa League. However, if United beat the Blues, they will qualify for the Europa League and sixth place will become the Europa Conference League spot.
Should United finish sixth and win the FA Cup, the Europa Conference League spot shall drop to seventh. If they finish below sixth and win the FA Cup then sixth shall be handed a spot in the Europa Conference League while seventh misses out on Europe entirely.
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Get him in ASAP…Alan Pardew thinks INEOS should replace Erik ten Hag with a former Man United player
Alan Pardew has urged Manchester United to replace Erik ten Hag with one of their former players.
Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford is up in the air, with the Dutchman underachieving at Manchester United this season.
Ten Hag’s debut campaign was encouraging for United fans after he delivered a League Cup and third-place finish in the Premier League.
With the Red Devils currently sitting sixth in the league, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS may decide to head in a new direction this summer.
Thomas Tuchel’s agents have already made United aware of the German’s availability this summer ahead of his departure from Bayern Munich.
But Alan Pardew believes United chiefs should take a chance on a manager who is currently working in the Championship.
Pardew urges United to hire Mark Robins
Speaking on talkSPORT [28/04 8:11pm], Pardew made the case for Mark Robins to be handed an opportunity at his former club.
“I have got a gaffer for you,” the former Newcastle United boss said. “Are you ready? He is not an international, he has not won the Dutch league, he has not won the French league, he is an old player of yours, he has done brilliant for four seasons, he almost beat you in the semi-final – Mark Robins.
“There you go. Get him in. He will do you a job, I tell you.”
Robins lacks experience at top level for United job
Of course, United fans will be familiar with Robins’ Coventry City side after the FA Cup semi-final just eight days ago.
The Sky Blues almost completed a stunning comeback at Wembley but ultimately fell to defeat on penalties after coming back from 3-0 down.
Robins has undoubtedly done an excellent job during his seven years with Coventry and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season.
The 54-year-old also famously ‘saved’ Sir Alex Ferguson’s job at United by netting a winner against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup way back in 1990.
Despite his links to the Premier League giants, it would be a huge surprise to see United take a risk on Robins given his lack of experience as a manager at the very top level.
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