The spotlight has been put on the Europa League winners getting Champions League qualification, as Man United close in on a place in the final.
Arsene Wenger has made controversial comments about the Europa League prize.(Image: Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
Manchester United are potentially just one win away from being back in the Champions League.
Last Thursday night’s 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at the San Mames Stadium means they are in the driving seat to reach the final later this month.
The two sides will reconvene at Old Trafford this Thursday evening and United know that it will take something quite spectacular for them to blow a three-goal lead from this position.
Winning the Europa League would salvage something from what has otherwise been a forgettable season and add a third piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet in as many seasons. More importantly, though, it would secure Champions League qualification for next season.
Since amending their rules back in 2014, Uefa have offered a Champions League place to the Europa League winners as part of the prize. United benefitted from that rule change in 2016/17, winning the competition after finishing sixth in the Premier League table.
Amid the prospect of them playing Tottenham Hotspur in the final later this month, questions have been raised about the Europa League winners being rewarded with a place in next season’s Champions League, with many suggesting neither United or Spurs, who are currently 15th and 16th in the Premier League table, are worthy of such a prize.
Such suggestions have understandably frustrated fans of United and Tottenham, many of who have suggested that not such a big deal has been made of it when other sides have contested the Europa League final in previous years.
Over the weekend, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was the latest high-profile figure to question the awarding of a Champions League spot to the Europa League winners.
Asked if it is right that the Europa League winner qualifies for the Champions League, Wenger told beIN Sports, said: “No. Well, it is right if you make the decision [for the Europa League winner to get Champions League qualification].
Arsene Wenger wants the Europa League prize to be reconsidered.(Image: beIN Sports.)
“They should qualify automatically for the Europa League again, not necessarily for the Champions League. Especially when you’re in a league where you already have too many teams, five teams, qualify.
“So, if we looked at it, maybe it is something to think about to review that. On the other hand, people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated, you need that prize.”
Funnily enough, Wenger was not turning his nose up Champions League qualification being part of the prize for winning the Europa League when he took Arsenal to the semi-finals of UEFA’s secondary European club competition in 2017/18.
Ahead of their last four showdown with Atletico Madrid, Arsenal were sixth in the Premier League table, 11 points shy of the top-four with four games to go, meaning their hopes of clinching Champions League qualification via their league position were as good as over.
Wenger, who left the club at the end of that season, was asked if the first leg of the clash with Atletico was his most important game as Gunners boss, to which he said: “The next one is always the most important in life. Of course it is the most important because it is the next one, because it is a big game as well.
“It influences the future of my club and that is why it is massive. It is a very, very big for us because the future of Arsenal Football Club is not exactly the same if we qualify for the Champions League or not.”
The Europa League winners get entered into the Champions League.(Image: Harold Cunningham – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
Unsurprisingly, Wenger, who watched Arsenal lose that semi-final, did not complain about Champions League qualification being a reward for winning the Europa League then, and why would he? It was an opportunity the Gunners were entitled to try and make the most of.
However, the fact he, alongside others, have shared their objections to the Europa League winners getting Champions League qualification when United have got themselves in the mix has understandably ruffled feathers in M16.
It is hard to recall such disgruntlement being raised when Sevilla finished 12th in La Liga and won the Europa League in 2022/23, likewise Eintracht Frankfurt 12 months earlier when they finished 11th in the Bundesliga and won the competition.
Get United transfer news and updates on WhatsApp!
Our team of Manchester United experts are on top of all the goings-on at Old Trafford for this week and beyond, and you can get the latest team news, injury updates, reaction and analysis along with inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 50,000 (and growing!) band of United fans who are following our WhatsApp Channel.
Sign up to our community here, and join our WhatsApp channel here.
—
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.