Manchester City finds themselves in an unusual position as the new year begins. The reigning European champions are sitting sixth in the Premier League, struggling to keep pace with England’s top teams. A much-needed victory over Leicester City last weekend brought some relief, marking only their second win in 14 matches across all competitions.
Although Pep Guardiola’s side remains 14 points behind league leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, the manager has admitted that their title defense is likely over. Instead, City’s focus has shifted to securing Champions League qualification for next season, a spot they haven’t missed since 2011.
Fortunately, they could receive unexpected help. The Premier League is currently in a position to secure an additional Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season due to its improved UEFA coefficient ranking. If this remains the case, a fifth-place finish in the Premier League might be enough for City to book their place in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.
QUOTES:
Guardiola has acknowledged the challenges this season, stating, “We are not at the level we need to be right now, but our focus is on improving. We’ve been in these situations before and have fought our way back.”
An insider close to UEFA rankings noted, “The performances of Chelsea and Liverpool have been instrumental in giving the Premier League a strong coefficient this season. It’s a long road ahead, but this could be a huge boost for teams like Manchester City.”
RECALL:
Last season, the Premier League missed out on the extra Champions League spot, with Serie A and the Bundesliga claiming it instead. However, strong performances this term, including Chelsea’s flawless run in the Conference League and Liverpool’s dominance in the Champions League, have significantly raised England’s coefficient score.
Manchester City’s fate, alongside that of other Premier League clubs, will now depend on their ability to maintain momentum in Europe. The extra places are determined by the top two leagues with the highest average scores across UEFA competitions.
CITATIONS:
Chelsea and Liverpool’s success has helped boost England’s ranking.
Serie A currently stands as the only other league in contention for the extra Champions League place.
German and French leagues, traditionally strong performers, have struggled in Europe this season, weakening the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 standings.
KEEP IN MIND:
While fifth place might eventually be enough, Guardiola will undoubtedly aim to steer Manchester City back into the top four.
With key matches against West Ham and Arsenal on the horizon, City’s season is far from decided. However, the potential safety net of an extra Champions League spot could provide some breathing room as the pressure mounts.
