April 18 – Finishing fourth in the Premier League has traditionally been the goal for achieving Champions League football the following season.
But by a supreme irony, the sudden improvement of English fortunes in both European club competitions could prevent this season’s fourth-placed side from entering UEFA’s elite tournament and securing a financial windfall, cranking up the pressure at the end of a remarkable campaign.
UEFA rules stipulate that no association can have more than five clubs in the Champions League for the 2016/17 season, meaning that if Manchester City win this season’s competition and Liverpool win the Europa League – both are in the semis – the fourth-place side domestically will have to drop out if both of them finish outside the top four.
UEFA rules also now stipulate that Europa League winners automatically qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
Tottenham finished fourth in the Premier League in the 2011/12 season but lost their spot in the Champions League because Chelsea won that competition while finishing sixth domestically. As a result of that, UEFA changed their rules to allow a fifth team to qualify from each nation if they are victorious in Europe.
That may not be enough for Manchester United or Arsenal though if semifinal European results go in favour of the two remaining English clubs.
As a result, fans of Arsenal, Manchester United and others hovering around fourth could be forgiven for rooting for Real Madrid and Villarreal to triumph over their compatriots in the semis later this month.
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