FA Cup now Euro lifeline for United
IT was not all that long ago that United were looking up rather than down as far as the Premier League table was concerned.
After chalking up a fourth consecutive league victory with a 2-1 triumph over Luton Town on February 18, United were within touching distance of the top four, finding themselves five points behind Aston Villa and just three short of fifthplaced Tottenham Hotspur. They had the bit between their teeth and were showing signs of encouragement. However, their winning run hit the buffers when Fulham visited Old Trafford less than a week later and secured a shock 2-1 win. Since beating Luton, United have won just once in the league, amassing just six points from the last 21 on offer.
As a result, United are now 13 points behind Villa, who tightened their grip on fourth spot with a 2-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday, with just six games left to play. Fifth spot, which is currently occupied by Spurs, could still be enough to secure Champions League qualification for next season, but Erik ten Hag’s troops are 10 points behind the Londoners.
With that in mind, United can almost certainly forget about the Champions League theme tune being played by the Old Trafford compere next season. The challenge for them now is to ensure they will, at the very least, get the opportunity to contest the Europa League.
However, following Chelsea’s 6-0 win over Everton on Monday night, just three points now separate Newcastle United in sixth and Chelsea in ninth. United are currently seventh, only behind Newcastle on goal difference.
United’s dismal run of form in recent weeks has meant that Chelsea, in the blink of an eye, are now within touching distance of catching them. The Londoners are eight Premier League games unbeaten and beat United 4-3 at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, of course.
Though Chelsea’s next three games will see them lock horns with Arsenal (A), Villa (A) and Spurs (H), meaning they have a crop of huge challenges on the horizon, they will fancy their chances of making a late dart for European qualification. Should the Premier League secure a fifth Champions League place, the clubs that finish sixth and seventh will earn Europa League spots while the side that finishes eighth will qualify for the Europa Conference League.
However, if the Premier League is denied a fifth Champions League place, only the division’s top seven will qualify for Europe for next season, with the top four going into the Champions League, fifth and sixth going into the Europa League and the club finishing seventh earning Europa Conference League qualification. Sixth place will secure a Europa League group stage spot if the FA Cup winners have already qualified for Europe through their league position. If they have not, sixth becomes the Europa Conference League play-off spot. With both Chelsea and West Ham United now hot on United’s heels, they are in a battle to secure any form of European qualification via their Premier League
United’s dismal form in recent weeks means Chelsea are now within touching distance of catching them
finishing position. However, like Chelsea, United also have the chance to secure European qualification via the FA Cup, with both sides currently preparing for semifinal showdowns this weekend.
The winner of the FA Cup will secure a place in next season’s Europa League group stages, provided they do not finish inside the Premier League’s top four, where, of course, Champions League qualification would rank as a higher achievement. Both United and Chelsea are highly unlikely to finish inside the top four, meaning Europa League qualification is the best form of European football they can both secure for next term.
Without diving too deep into all of the European permutations and the confusion that can generate, United know, if their league form continues to stumble, the FA Cup offers an alternative route into Europe for next season.
Facing Coventry City in their respective semi-final this weekend, United are heavy favourites to reach the final, where they will either face City or Chelsea.
United need to win the FA Cup to salvage their season, while Ten Hag potentially needs to win it to save his job. If United win the FA Cup, their season, to an extent, will be rescued.
With their league form continuing to falter, however, United are in a position where the FA Cup must take priority, as that offers a route to securing a trophy and achieving the highest form of European qualification they can almost certainly secure in the league.
It is why securing two wins at Wembley is important for more than just one reason.