Kieran Maguire: ‘Man United fans will be cheering on Liverpool after £30m+ reveal’
Man United fans have to rely on arch-rivals Man City and Liverpool to secure the Premier League a fifth Champions League qualification spot.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Red Devils made history by finishing bottom of their Champions League group.
United crashed out of Europe after finishing fourth in Group A with just four points after six matches.
Newcastle United were also eliminated from the competition at the group stage, making it the first time in Premier League history that two teams finished bottom of their group.
The double elimination will take a toll on the Premier League’s coefficient points for a fifth qualification place, with two nations set to be handed an extra spot for the 2024/25 season.
Maguire previously told Football Insider that Champions League qualification next season will be worth “a minimum of £30million”.
Germany and Italy currently hold the top two coefficient spots, meaning the Premier League is relying on Liverpool and Man City to progress further in the competition.
Maguire believes that United will struggle to reach the top four this season and therefore their only hope of Champions League football next season may be decided by their two biggest rivals.
“Both Newcastle and Man United finishing bottom of their groups in the Champions League is the first time in Premier League history that two teams have finished fourth,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“It is a big blow to the chances of earning that fifth qualification spot so we will have the unusual situation of United fans cheering on the two teams they like least in Man City and Liverpool.
“They have to hope that both of those clubs make significant progress in the Champions League this season.
“Getting into the top four given their start to the season will be challenging for Man United so a fifth-placed qualification spot would be extremely favourable for Erik ten Hag.“
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