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Man Utd and Tottenham have been done huge favour by three Prem rivals
Manchester United and Tottenham have been given a helping hand by their Premier League rivals.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major boost to their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. England’s UEFA coefficient ranking, which dictates how many Champions League spots each country receives, was enhanced with the Europa League and Europa Conference League progression of three of their Premier League rivals on Thursday night.
UEFA’s coefficient is determined by the collective performances of each nation’s clubs in European competition. England’s strong coefficient rating now means that it is highly likely that the Premier League will be granted a fifth Champions League qualification berth.
Spurs and Man Utd currently sit in fifth and sixth place, behind Aston Villa in fourth, with their hopes of competing in Europe’s premier international competition significantly raised.
With next season’s revamped Champions League there are 36 teams involved, four more than seen this season. The expanded tournament will see two extra spaces for ‘European Performance Spots’ - given to the two highest performing nations.
England now look set to receive this extra sport, with English teams outperforming their German counterparts.
Italy currently has the highest ranked coefficient, and they look set to stay in the lead with AC Milan, Atalanta and Roma are still in the Europa League, and Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League. Germany are narrowly ahead of England in second place.
However with Liverpool, West Ham, and Villa all cruising through England have gained a crucial advantage.
Brighton were the only English side knocked out in the round of 16 of any of the three competitions. Danny Welbeck’s first half strike gave Roberto Di Zerbi’s men the victory at the Amex but they were unable to overturn a four goal deficit from the first leg.
Liverpool put 11 past Sparta Prague over their tie to book their quarter-final date with Atalanta and West Ham face the Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League. Vila are up against Lille in the Conference League.
English teams are in the business end of all three European competitions, with Manchester City and Arsenal still in the Champions League. Manchester City face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal have drawn Bayern Munich, and Man Utd and Spurs fans will be conflicted as a victory for their arch rivals would further amplify their chances of a fifth place Champions League spot - but also inch the Gunners closer to European glory.
Borussia Dortmund are also in the Champions League last eight. But all three German clubs would need to go further than the remaining English sides to prevent England overtaking them in the coefficient table.
Scotland also find themselves locked in a coefficient battle with Czech Republic, with their one guaranteed Champions League qualification spot at risk, after Rangers’ Europa League exit.
Despite neither of their sides being in European competition, Erik ten Hag and Ange Postecoglou will be keeping a close eye on how the latter stages develop.