Sheffield United in the big time and Arsenal given hope… what does Manchester City’s ban from the Champions League mean for the rest of the Premier League?
- Manchester City have been banned from Europe for two seasons
- The ban is due to the club’s breach of Financial Fair Play rules by overspending
- Sportsmail takes a look at the implications on other Premier League teams
- The ruling could impact the likes of Sheffield United, Arsenal and Everton
Manchester City have been hit with a two-year ban from European football sanctioned by UEFA.
The ruling, which is due to City’s breach of Financial Fair Play regulations, comes as a serious blow to the current Premier League champions as the Champions League is the only trophy that has eluded them since manager Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016.
City have appealed UEFA’s ban which could change matters – but if the ruling is upheld then it will lead to shockwaves running through European football. Sportsmail takes a look at the implications City’s potential ruling has on other Premier League clubs…
Manchester City have been banned from playing in Europe by UEFA for two years
Sheffield United in the Champions League?
It means Sheffield United could qualify for the Champions League by finishing in fifth place
One major question on the lips of many Premier League clubs is who will take City’s Champions League spot if the Citizens finish in the top-four.
While UEFA and the Premier League have not confirmed what will happen regarding England’s qualification spots, UEFA rule 4.08 says:
‘A club which is not admitted to the competition is replaced by the next best-placed club in the top domestic championship of the same association, provided the new club fulfils the admission criteria.one potential solution is that fifth place qualifying for European’s biggest club competition.’
This would mean Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United – who currently occupy that fifth position in the Premier League – are in pole position to qualify for the Champions League with just over a dozen matches remaining.
The Blades were sitting in England’s third tier just over three years ago and were playing in the Championship last season, meaning potential ties against Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain would cap off a meteoric rise by Wilder’s side.
It would also mean Sheffield United could attract some of Europe’s elite players which would have long-term benefits regarding the stature of the club.
That being said, given Oliver Norwood, John Fleck and Lys Mousset’s performances this season, why would Wilder look to replace them?
However, Sheffield United’s hold of fifth-place could go out of their hands if Tottenham beat Aston Villa on Sunday, with Jose Mourinho’s side sitting two points behind the Blades with a game in hand.
Arsenal and Manchester United given hope
Mikel Arteta (right) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) could get Champions League boosts
Arsenal and Manchester United’s seasons – both of which can only be described as disastrous – have just been kicked into life.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils sat six points behind the Champions League spots before City’s ruling – now that gap has been reduced to four given fifth-place’s potential eligibility for Europe’s top club competition.
Meanwhile, Arsenal currently sit ten points behind fourth-placed Chelsea as Champions League football next season seemingly looked like a bridge too far for new head coach Mikel Arteta.
However, if the Gunners beat Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, they can close the gap on fifth-placed Sheffield United to just five points.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, also have winning the Europa League as a potential way-in to next season’s Champions League proper – but their end to the domestic season has just got interesting.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton with eyes on Europe
Could Carlo Ancelotti reach next season’s Champions League with Everton?
When Carlo Ancelotti took over as Everton boss, the Toffees sat in 15th place and sat four points above the relegation zone.
After a small resurgence masterminded by the Italian at Goodison Park, Everton now look highly likely to qualify for Europe next season, with spots in both the Champions League and Europa League up for grabs.
The Toffees currently sit in seventh place – two points behind Sheffield United and five points behind Ancelotti’s former club Chelsea in fourth.
If Manchester City beat Aston Villa in the League Cup final, and a top-four club wins the FA Cup in May, then eighth place would qualify for the Europa League.
Goodison Park has only seen two European campaigns in the last nine seasons, so qualification for Europe confirm Ancelotti’s position as an Everton fan favourite.
But given Ancelotti has won the Champions League three times as a manager, he may just fancy his chances to get his new team playing with the big boys.