The Champions League and Europa League is changing – here’s how it will affect Manchester United.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson‘s retirement, Manchester United‘s record in the Champions League has been awful. The team has reached the quarter-finals twice (2013/14 and 2018/19), the last 16 twice (2017/18 and 2021/22), and crashed out in the group stages three times (2015/16, 2020/21, and now 2023/24).
For the rest of the years Manchester United did not even qualify. If you are keeping track, that is a total of two knockout games won in 10 years, v Olympiakos in 2013/14 and Paris Saint-Germain in 2018/19. Literally two games, with United losing the first leg of both and winning the second to go through.
It’s a far cry from the Ferguson era, who won the trophy in 1998/99, 2007/08, and reached the final in 2008/09 and 2010/11. Plus the semi-finals in 1996/97 and 2001/02.
But now the competition is changing. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Champions League new format – Explained
If Manchester United are going to win the Champions League in the future, or even just get to the knockout stages, it is going to have to be done a whole lot differently. The 23/24 season was the last chance to compete in the current format.
As of the 2024/25 campaign, the Champions League group stages will be gone. It will be replaced with ONE group of 36 teams.
The 36-team group will see each team play eight matches, instead of six, against four opponents which are drawn via pots.
The top eight teams in the big group will automatically qualify for the knockout stages. Teams ranked 9th-24th will be drawn in a two-legged play-off. Teams finishing 25th or lower will be automatically eliminated.
If this all sounds a little confusing, well, this is UEFA’s answer to the Super League. More matches, a league format, and, well, it’s just not the same is it?
If Manchester United do qualify and reach the Champions League, competing in it next season will have a whole new feel. UEFA are essentially taking a product which ‘is not broke’ and trying to fix it.
The video below explains perfectly how the entire new system works:
New Europa League format – Explained
If the new Champions League sounds like a pretty uninspired competition to be a part of, then you won’t be excited about next season’s Europa League either.
The Europa League and Europa Conference League will also be radically reformatted to follow the Champions League model, with one large group stage, before the knockout rounds.
There is currently a stronger chance Manchester United end up in one of these competitions in 2024/25. What joy.
How will the new setup affect Manchester United?
Manchester United face a tough battle just to qualify for the Champions League next season. United are in a battle for the top four.
There is still a way to go, but it is going to be tight, and Manchester United must get their act together just to be part of the new format, which will have a financial incentive with increased prize money.
However, interestingly there is a way they could still qualify by finishing outside the top four.