Will we qualify for the CL?

[Dick Edwards]

We’ve had three ‘six pointers ‘ in the last month, won two and lost one. If we hadn’t left ourselves with so much to do that would have been viewed as a successful outcome. I still think we will finish top five but only two months ago many didn’t think we’d make even the Conference League position, we were so far off the pace. We’re now pretty much nailed on for that at least. It’s going to be a run in with so much still to play for.

[cdbearsfan]

We had two bad spells. One mostly self-inflicted, and one largely due to bad luck when we were getting a new centre-half injured in the first half of every game. We'd still have qualified with one of those runs, but not two. Don't make too many plans for Thursday nights next season.

[Meanwood Villa]

7th looks secure and that will be Europa as long as Palace don't win the cup. That is our motivation for Saturday. If we do get to the cup final we'll lose to Man City but we won't have to play them in the Europa League.

[Smithy]

7th looks secure and that will be Europa as long as Palace don't win the cup. That is our motivation for Saturday. If we do get to the cup final we'll lose to Man City but we won't have to play them in the Europa League.

I've seen a few people say this, have you got a source for it? It would be good to know that beating Palace would effectively guarantee us Europa League next season.  My big fear is being in the Conference league again.  I want Champions League, but Europa wouldn't be a total disaster - and it's another realistic chance of a trophy, even if financially it's not as good.

[Dave]

7th looks secure and that will be Europa as long as Palace don't win the cup. That is our motivation for Saturday. If we do get to the cup final we'll lose to Man City but we won't have to play them in the Europa League.

I've seen a few people say this, have you got a source for it? It would be good to know that beating Palace would effectively guarantee us Europa League next season.  My big fear is being in the Conference league again.  I want Champions League, but Europa wouldn't be a total disaster - and it's another realistic chance of a trophy, even if financially it's not as good.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/373663

If the FA Cup winners finish in the top five of the Premier League, their UEL league-phase place will go to the next-highest ranked team not qualified for UEFA competitions in the Premier League.

So if we beat Palace, we either qualify as FA Cup winners, or because Man City / Forest have beaten us in the final so sixth / seventh are both Europea League.

If Palace get to the final and lose, they don't get the spot - they used to, but UEFA said they didn't want runners up spoiling their competitions, so that was scrapped in 2016.

[Drummond]

Good old consistency from UEFA as usual.... Not having runners up but letting teams finishing 5th in a domestic competition play in the top European one.

[Smithy]

7th looks secure and that will be Europa as long as Palace don't win the cup. That is our motivation for Saturday. If we do get to the cup final we'll lose to Man City but we won't have to play them in the Europa League.

I've seen a few people say this, have you got a source for it? It would be good to know that beating Palace would effectively guarantee us Europa League next season.  My big fear is being in the Conference league again.  I want Champions League, but Europa wouldn't be a total disaster - and it's another realistic chance of a trophy, even if financially it's not as good.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/373663

If the FA Cup winners finish in the top five of the Premier League, their UEL league-phase place will go to the next-highest ranked team not qualified for UEFA competitions in the Premier League.

So if we beat Palace, we either qualify as FA Cup winners, or because Man City / Forest have beaten us in the final so sixth / seventh are both Europea League.

If Palace get to the final and lose, they don't get the spot - they used to, but UEFA said they didn't want runners up spoiling their competitions, so that was scrapped in 2016.

That's great, thanks for explaining!

[Somniloquism]

7th looks secure and that will be Europa as long as Palace don't win the cup. That is our motivation for Saturday. If we do get to the cup final we'll lose to Man City but we won't have to play them in the Europa League.

I've seen a few people say this, have you got a source for it? It would be good to know that beating Palace would effectively guarantee us Europa League next season.  My big fear is being in the Conference league again.  I want Champions League, but Europa wouldn't be a total disaster - and it's another realistic chance of a trophy, even if financially it's not as good.

Especially with Emery's record in the Europa and now being arguably an easier competition without the big boys dropping down from the CL halfway through.

[eamonn]

It's a competition we should definitely be targeting to win which isn't the case with the CL. But our squad will be weaker if we're not in the CL and our revenue less. As it's 2025,  those things are more important than a trophy.

[Dave]

It's a competition we should definitely be targeting to win which isn't the case with the CL. But our squad will be weaker if we're not in the CL and our revenue less. As it's 2025,  those things are more important than a trophy.

I imagine that everyone would prefer to finish fifth or higher rather than sixth or lower, but if the reality turns out to be Europa League then it shouldn't be seen as a disaster.

And if it is a disaster, then something has gone wrong somewhere because we shouldn't *now* be in a position where we're relying on Champions League qualification for our sustainability.

We're definitely not a club that finishes 4th/5th or higher from now for evermore. If we qualfiy this season we might miss out next season, or the season after that. So we need to put ourselves in a situation where Champions League qualification and what it brings is a bonus, not a necessity.

[Villa in Denmark]

Words of wisdom from Dave (as ever).

It would be problematic if it caused an exodus but over the last 4-5 years who has been guaranteed Champions League?

[Brazilian Villain]

It's a competition we should definitely be targeting to win which isn't the case with the CL. But our squad will be weaker if we're not in the CL and our revenue less. As it's 2025,  those things are more important than a trophy.

I imagine that everyone would prefer to finish fifth or higher rather than sixth or lower, but if the reality turns out to be Europa League then it shouldn't be seen as a disaster.

As I put it in a group chat, if we have to settle for a TAG Heuer instead of a Patek Philippe, so be it.

[OCD]

It's a competition we should definitely be targeting to win which isn't the case with the CL. But our squad will be weaker if we're not in the CL and our revenue less. As it's 2025,  those things are more important than a trophy.

I imagine that everyone would prefer to finish fifth or higher rather than sixth or lower, but if the reality turns out to be Europa League then it shouldn't be seen as a disaster.

And if it is a disaster, then something has gone wrong somewhere because we shouldn't *now* be in a position where we're relying on Champions League qualification for our sustainability.

We're definitely not a club that finishes 4th/5th or higher from now for evermore. If we qualfiy this season we might miss out next season, or the season after that. So we need to put ourselves in a situation where Champions League qualification and what it brings is a bonus, not a necessity.

I only see us getting stronger. Qualifying this year should be seen as a bonus but if we do, I think the chances of us qualifying in future increases.

[Dave P]

7th looks secure and that will be Europa as long as Palace don't win the cup. That is our motivation for Saturday. If we do get to the cup final we'll lose to Man City but we won't have to play them in the Europa League.

I've seen a few people say this, have you got a source for it? It would be good to know that beating Palace would effectively guarantee us Europa League next season.  My big fear is being in the Conference league again.  I want Champions League, but Europa wouldn't be a total disaster - and it's another realistic chance of a trophy, even if financially it's not as good.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/373663

If the FA Cup winners finish in the top five of the Premier League, their UEL league-phase place will go to the next-highest ranked team not qualified for UEFA competitions in the Premier League.

So if we beat Palace, we either qualify as FA Cup winners, or because Man City / Forest have beaten us in the final so sixth / seventh are both Europea League.

If Palace get to the final and lose, they don't get the spot - they used to, but UEFA said they didn't want runners up spoiling their competitions, so that was scrapped in 2016.

It was scrapped before 2016 as we'd have qualified in 2015 wouldn't we?

[Dave]

Sorry, yes. 14/15 was the season it was removed. Hull were last to play in Europe thanks to being FA Cup runners-up in that 13/14 season.