Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of a Champions League spot for next season, following the collapse of multiple of their Premier League rivals.
A top-five finish looked like a far-fetched dream at one point in the season for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, but following a recent resurgence under Michael Carrick, it is now well within their sights.
Although Carrick’s men suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of a ten-man Newcastle United side, they still sit third in the Premier League standings.
Up next for the Reds is a tough test at home to Aston Villa, with whom they currently sit level on points, as they continue their pursuit of a return to the Champions League.
If this fixture wasn’t important enough for the Red Devils, it may have just become even more crucial, following the knock-on effect from this week’s set of Champions League fixtures.
Chelsea and Man City deal United blow
During this week’s edition of Champions League football, many of United’s Premier League rivals took to the pitch, although none of the six English sides managed to come out victorious.
The biggest strugglers from these fixtures were Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, who all suffered three-goal deficits on the road.
As for Liverpool, they lost 1-0 away to Galatasaray, whilst Arsenal and Newcastle United both drew 1-1, setting up some very nail-biting second legs.
These results have left the very real possibility that no English sides will remain in the competition after next week, with Arsenal arguably having the best chance of making it to the quarter-finals.
This is a blow for United, who would benefit from their Premier League counterparts advancing into the latter stages of the competition, as it may provide them with a safety net for if they were to finish fifth in the league table.
The UEFA coefficient table explained
As for this current season, there are six English sides in the Champions League, with a total of nine English sides spread across the three European competitions.
Heading into the knockout rounds, England led the UEFA coefficient table, although, this may change if as many as four clubs across the three competitions are eliminated next week.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, England currently has a score of 22.513, whilst Spain, Germany and Italy all sit behind at around 18.000. For England to lose their extra Champions League spot, they would need to fall out of the top two.
This precarious situation will only add pressure on the Reds and their competitors around them, as finishing fifth may no longer be enough to secure a spot in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
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