Need to know
As Manchester United chase a place in the Champions League, the MEN looks at what would happen if United finish outside the top four and how Tottenham could play a key role
Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected as he walks off the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026 in Manchester, England
Manchester United's Champions League hopes may still be scuppered by Tottenham
If Manchester United finish 5th in the Premier League
Finishing fifth offers a potential lifeline via the "European Performance Spots", which are awarded to the two nations whose clubs perform best in Europe this season. Should England secure one of these extra berths, United would qualify for the Champions League despite missing the traditional top four.
However, if English clubs underperform in European competitions and the Premier League misses out on a coefficient bonus, fifth place would result in Europa League football. This outcome would lead to a significant loss in anticipated broadcasting revenue and could impact the club's summer transfer budget.
The club would be left waiting until the final stages of the Champions League and Europa League knockout rounds to confirm their status. Until the coefficient rankings are finalised in May, a fifth-place finish remains a precarious "wait-and-see" scenario.
A sixth-place finish almost certainly guarantees a spot in the Europa League rather than the premier competition. Under current regulations, there is no direct path to the Champions League from this position through domestic league standing alone.
Missing out on the top five would likely trigger financial penalties in major sponsorship deals, such as the long-term kit agreement with Adidas. This would place immense pressure on the club’s ability to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in the coming seasons.
If Tottenham win the Champions League but finish low in the league, they qualify automatically for next season's competition as the defending title holders. This would result in England having an additional representative, potentially bringing the total to six clubs if the Premier League also earns a performance spot.
United’s fifth-place position would still secure Champions League football, provided England has earned that fifth coefficient berth. The rules no longer result in a higher-placed team losing their spot to accommodate a title winner, meaning United would not be displaced by a Tottenham victory.
Tottenham winning the trophy while finishing outside the top six would have no direct positive impact on Manchester United, of the Reds finished sixth. United would still find themselves consigned to the Europa League, watching their North London rivals take the final Champions League berth as holders.
The Champions League holder's spot is non-transferable and belongs strictly to the winning club if they fail to qualify through their domestic league position. Even if Tottenham occupy a "bonus" spot, that privilege does not trickle down to the team finishing in sixth place.