Premier League clubs gear up for a potential European takeover, with Chelsea’s final position set to determine the full lineup.
European spots up for grabs as Premier League clubs await Chelsea’s decisive finish.
As the Premier League season winds down, attention is quickly turning to what promises to be an exciting European campaign for English clubs next season and there’s a real possibility that up to ten English teams could be playing in European competition next season but everything hinges on one club which is Chelsea.
Let’s break it down:
Champions League: six EPL clubs will qualify
Normally, the Premier League sends its top four teams to the UEFA Champions League. But thanks to England’s strong UEFA coefficient and the performance of English clubs in Europe this season, the top five Premier League teams will qualify for the Champions League next season.
On top of that, if any English club wins the Europa League, they will also gain automatic entry into the Champions League and even if they finish outside the top five. That could push the total number of EPL representatives in the UCL to six.
Europa League: Crystal Palace and one more?
The FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners usually earn spots in the Europa League and Conference League, respectively. However, since Crystal Palace won the FA Cup this season and may not finish high in the league, they will secure a Europa League spot.
The second Europa League slot will go to the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League standings.
Conference League: Newcastle United Holding a wild card
Newcastle United, the Carabao Cup winners, are currently outside the top five but have already secured a slot in the Conference League. However, if they somehow qualify for the Champions League via league position, the seventh-placed team in the league will take their Conference League place. So mid-table clubs still have everything to play for.
Chelsea: The Game- Changer
The Blues are currently playing in the UEFA Conference League. If they win the Conference League and finish 7th in the Premier League, England will receive an extra spot in the Europa League. That would mean the 6th and 7th-placed teams in the league would go into the Europa League, while Newcastle’s Conference League fallback could shift to 8th place (depending on UEFA’s slot allocation).
But if Chelsea win the Conference League and finish in the top five, they’ll have a choice between the Champions League spot they earned from the league and the Europa League spot earned through their Conference League victory. Naturally, they would almost certainly choose the Champions League, but the decision would impact how many teams England gets to send to each competition.
Final Word: England Could Flood Europe
So, here’s the potential scenario:
- 5–6 teams in the Champions League
- 2–3 teams in the Europa League
- 1–2 teams in the Conference League
That makes it possible for up to 10 English clubs to play European football next season a staggering figure that reflects the depth and competitiveness of the Premier League.
All eyes now turn to Chelsea as their results could reshape Europe’s landscape next season.
