Manchester United 'could still qualify for Champions League with sixth-placed finish'

Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils currently trail fifth-placed Aston Villa by 11 points with just seven games remaining in the season.

While they have displayed flashes of brilliance under the Dutchman this term, much of Man Utd's performance has been underwhelming, evidenced by their early exit from the Champions League group stage and failure to defend their League Cup title.

Yet, despite their poor form, there remains a slender possibility for the Red Devils to secure Champions League qualification even if they fail to secure a top-five finish.

The upcoming season of the Champions League will witness significant changes, including the elimination of group stages and the introduction of a single table format with an expanded team roster.

Consequently, UEFA is poised to allocate additional slots to certain countries in light of these modifications.

The UEFA co-efficient system has positioned England alongside Italy for an additional Champions League place, shifting the traditional top-four qualification dynamic.

The significance of this situation lies in the UEFA rule, which traditionally allocates Champions League spots based on domestic league finishes rather than the winners of European competitions.

This rule alteration could potentially benefit Tottenham Hotspur or Aston Villa over Manchester United, though, with Spurs currently holding fourth place and Villa only behind on goal difference.

However, there remains a slim chance for Manchester United to