There is a very real possibility that England could be represented in the Champions League next season by seven teams thanks to UEFA's rules
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The UEFA Champions League trophy pictured in Milan this week
The UEFA Champions League trophy pictured in Milan this week
(Image: Getty Images)
Both Manchester United and Manchester City both hold chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League without having to finish in the top four this campaign.
In fact, as many as seven clubs from the Premier League have the chance of representing the nation in Europe's elite competition if things go their way between now and May. With United and City both needing unconventional routes to get to the Champions League next season, MEN Sport has taken a look at what needs to happen.
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How City can reach the Champions League
City have two realistic opportunities of gaining entry to the Champions League next season. First is the conventional route of finishing inside the top four. Pep Guardiola's side are currently two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and sit fifth.
However, fifth is likely to be enough too considering UEFA's new coefficient ranking rule. Brought in last season when the Champions League was expanded, the coefficient rule allows the top two nations in their ranking system an extra Champions League spot.
Nations gain points in the ranking system based on how well their clubs do in the Champions League, as well as the Europa League and Conference League. Currently, City and Liverpool are the only two clubs from England to be knocked out.
Aston Villa and Arsenal have already booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League while Tottenham Hotspur and United are looking to get to the last-eight in the Europa League tonight.
Chelsea are the favourites to not only make the quarter-finals of the Conference League but also win the tournament outright. Should England's success continue, they will keep their spot at the top of the coefficient rankings.
England is currently on 108.8 points which leads the way over Italy on 94.7 and Spain on 91.5 before tonight's Europa League and Conference League games.
How United can reach the Champions League
If City's route seems complicated, United's is straightforward but no less challenging. They are nearly guaranteed not to finish in the top five so they would need to win the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Winners of the Europa League qualify automatically for the Champions League next season so should Tottenham lift that trophy, they would also qualify for next season's competition.
What about the seventh spot?
Should the above scenarios occur, the Premier League would have a seventh team in the Champions League next season should either Arsenal or Aston Villa win this season's competition and finish outside the top five. The Gunners look set to qualify for the Champions League through their league position.
However, Villa currently sit eighth and are an outside bet to finish in the top four or five this season. So, should England gain a fifth spot through their coefficient ranking, United or Spurs win the Europa League and Arsenal or Villa win the Champions League and finish outside the top five, seven teams from the Premier League will be in next season's competition.