Premier League remain outside the top 2 in latest coefficient update
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Even though our English teams aren’t playing in European competitions this season, what happens there is still really important for us in the future.
The future of English football in Europe next season depends on how well the 8 teams who entered the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League this season do. Right now, the Premier League has 4 Champions League spots, 2 Europa League spots (1 for the FA Cup winners), and 1 Europa Conference League spot (for the Carabao Cup winners).
Since the Champions League is going to have more teams next season, there’s a chance for one more English team to join if our league does well this season. But to get that extra spot, our teams need to perform well in this season’s competitions.
The two best-performing countries in Europe in this season’s competitions will get an extra spot for the next season. Right now, Manchester United and Newcastle are out of Europe, leaving only 6 English teams in the competitions. Teams like Aston Villa, Liverpool, Brighton, and West Ham will join in the next round, which could give them an advantage.
You might think it’s not a big deal because teams like Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool are usually strong in Europe. But here’s the tricky part: the points are divided by 8, so the fewer teams there are, the lower the average points will be. Since two teams have already been knocked out, it’ll bring the average down.
You might wonder how this affects Chelsea. Well, considering their not-so-great start to the season, it’s unlikely they’ll finish in the top 4 by May. This means they might miss out on European football altogether, unless the Premier League gets another Champions League spot. If that happens, 8th place would likely mean playing in the Conference League, while missing out on the 5th spot would mean aiming for 7th.
But Chelsea fans still have hope. Winning the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup could still get them into European competitions, regardless of what happens in the Premier League. So, there’s still a chance for them to play in Europe next season.
