What new Champions League schedule would mean for Tottenham, Aston Villa and Man Utd next season

Ange Postecoglou will be aiming to finish his first season in the Tottenham hotseat by guiding the club back to the promised land of the Champions League after one year away. After missing out on European football altogether for this campaign having finished the 2022/23 season in eighth place in the Premier League table, all connected with the Lilywhites have looked on at Europe's premier competition with envious eyes.

With Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal all looking set to be competing in the Champions League next term going on their current form and positions in the Premier League, it appears that it is a three-way fight between Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester United for the fourth and final spot. However, a fifth-place finish in the Premier League could potentially be enough to secure a place at Europe's top table with the competition expanding next season due to a new format.

Of the four extra places up for grabs, two of the positions will be given to the leagues that have performed best across all three of UEFA's club competitions this season in the European Performance Spots. Italy and Germany currently lead the way as things stand, with England next in line for an extra Champions League spot.

An awful lot could still change between now and the end of the season, with Spurs and fellow rivals Aston Villa and Manchester United needing the English teams currently competing in Europe to go as far as possible. Given there are no guarantees that fifth place would be enough for Champions League football as things stand, Tottenham and their competitors will be doing all they can to secure fourth.

From the 2024/25 season, the Champions League will be operating with a new format as 36 teams compete in one big league table.