Tottenham Hotspur’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season was only enough to secure them a place in the Europa League this term, but there are better odds on there being five Champions League spots for English teams this year.
Law of UEFA averages
UEFA’s coefficient ranking system offers countries the chance to gain an extra spot in the Champions League based on how well that nation’s teams fare in European competitions throughout the season.
So, for example, if English teams were to make it out of the group stages and into the latter stages of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League in a season, there is a good chance the Premier League would end up with five places in the top continental competition for the following year.
That didn’t happen last year, though. Italy’s Serie A took top spot in the coefficient rankings by quite some distance, helped largely by Atalanta’s Europa League win.
Although the Premier League had the second-highest points haul, they were beaten to the extra qualification place by the Bundesliga, on account of the fact that England had eight teams in competitions while Germany had just seven, thus earning a higher average.
That meant that Aston Villa in fourth place was the final team to join the Champions League for the 2024/25 season, and Spurs in fifth were left to compete in the Europa League this season.
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The tables have turned this year
It’s all different this year, though, as England now have just seven teams in European competitions. Meanwhile, Germany and Italy have eight teams, making it harder for their respective leagues to rack up a strong average, unless they were to produce cup winners in each of the tournaments.
Spain also have seven teams in continental competitions, meaning the English teams taking part will need to ensure they go far in their respective competitions if the Premier League is to win the extra spot this year.
Spurs Web Opinion
None of this matters, for two reasons. First of all, Spurs are going to finish in the top four this year anyway, thus guaranteeing Champions League football for next season.
On top of that, we are going to win the Europa League, too, just to make it even more certain that we get into the Champions League. Simple!