Will we qualify for the CL?

[PaulWinch again]

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.

Yep and I think that CL point is key - if everything hinges on getting it this year then we’ve massively cocked up. It should be a welcome boost not the thing that makes us sink or swim.

[Dick Edwards]

We were way off the pace for CL qualification in January when we brought in Malen, Asensio and Rashford so I’d like to think we weren’t counting on them guaranteeing a top five finish

[PeterWithesShin]

Today
Chelsea v Everton
Newcastle v Ipswich

Thurs
Forest v Brentford

Fri
Man City v Wolves

Sat
Villa v Fulham

Sun
Brighton v Newcastle
Chelsea v Liverpool

Mon
Palace v Forest

[PeterWithesShin]

FA Cup or Champions League qualification - which means more?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cddenz1yd52o

[Monty]

FA Cup or Champions League qualification - which means more?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cddenz1yd52o

Cup for me. I know the hard-headed would likely be of a different, especially higher up in the club. But from my point of view football's not about the hard head but the big soft heart of the thing - I've seen us play in the Champions League, I loved it, I'd love to see it more often, but even my dad has never seen us win that damn pot. In any case, we want CL to keep us competitive in order to win trophies, so...let's win one of the feckers?

[Dante Lavelli]

FA Cup or Champions League qualification - which means more?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cddenz1yd52o

Cup for me. I know the hard-headed would likely be of a different, especially higher up in the club. But from my point of view football's not about the hard head but the big soft heart of the thing - I've seen us play in the Champions League, I loved it, I'd love to see it more often, but even my dad has never seen us win that damn pot. In any case, we want CL to keep us competitive in order to win trophies, so...let's win one of the feckers?

Cup for me too.  CL qualification means more money but personally I wish it had less influence in the game.

[Martyn Smith]

I just feel like this season has Europa all over it, league position and/or cup. It would be quite pleasing to play all three different UEFA competitions consecutively, albeit not in the most obvious order...

[PaulWinch again]

Seems highly unlikely - we just need to try and win all our games and then see.

[Martyn Smith]

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.

They didn't want runners up spoiling the competitions, said UEFA, offering *Champions* League places to teams finishing second to fifth...

[Toronto Villa]

No. Sadly. From being confident just a week ago to literally being broken by the past two games.

[PaulWinch again]

If CL means the Conference League, quite likely.

[Somniloquism]

No. Sadly. From being confident just a week ago to literally being broken by the past two games.

Both down to Emery not thinking we can play like we do at home away. Performances and selections have been atrocious when he can rotate players at the moment.

[Rigadon]

They really need to now. 

[PaulWinch again]

If Rashford is done we have to ensure we have a pacy wide player on one side - probably the right. Without it, we are so easy to play against.

[Villan82]

Aside from our club's need to win a trophy, that was also a route to guarantee Europa League. Honestly. I am so disgusted by today.