May 26 – Manchester United will return to Champions League action next season following their 4-1 defeat of Chelsea to ensure a top-four finish and a coveted ticket for Europe’s premier club competition.
Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes (penalty) and Marcus Rashford were all on the scoresheet for the hosts against a lacklustre London team. United needed just a point from their final two league games to claim a Champions League ticket.
It means that Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will not feature in the competition that they won in 2019.
“This club belongs in the Champions League,” said United coach Ten Hag. “Finishing in the top four was the main objective. The competition is tough, there are many teams with really good squads, good managers and high budgets.
“For this moment it is the maximum but we want more and I don’t have a lot of patience. Standards have to go up. Manchester City are playing outstanding football but we have a way to go.”
Last season Manchester were condemned to the Europa League, crashing out against Sevilla in the last eight. In the 2021-22 season, they reached the round of 16 of the Champions League, exiting against Atletico Madrid.
They last won the Champions League in 2008 defeating Chelsea in an all-English in Moscow. They reached the final in 2009 as well as 2011 but were twice beaten by FC Barcelona.
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