A Manchester United defeat in Stockholm won’t guarantee Spurs a better group in next year’s Champions League but it will definitely give them a better chance.
Spurs will be in the draw for the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition, having guaranteed qualification with their second-placed finish in the Premier League this season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side will currently go into Pot 3 for the draw, with a coefficient of 77,135, but there remains a chance of a place in Pot 2 and the likelihood of a far more favourable group if a few results go in Spurs’ favour.
Firstly, the London outfit will require a Manchester United defeat in the Europa League final.
United currently have a superior coefficient of 93,315 and a victory for the Red Devils on Wednesday night will see them leapfrog Spurs into Pot 2.
An Ajax (67,212) win, meanwhile, will see them automatically enter Pot 3.
Following everything thus far? Good.
Not only will Spurs require an Ajax victory at the Friends Arena but they will also need both Napoli and Sevilla to come up short in the coming months.
The Serie A season is still underway and Spurs will need Napoli (88,666) to finish the league in third place, where they currently sit, and solidify their place in Pot 3.
Sevilla (112,942), meanwhile, have already qualified for the Champions League playoffs but due to their superior coefficient over Spurs, they will move into Pot 2 ahead of Pochettino’s side if they get through the playoffs.
Confusing, we know. Let us simplify things for you.
Spurs will essentially need both Napoli and Sevilla to fail to progress to the group stages by losing in their respective playoff ties if a clear path to Pot 2 is to be secured, as well as a United loss tonight in Sweden.
To sum up, Spurs will enter Pot 2 for the Champions League draw if:
– Manchester United lose the Europa League final.
– Napoli finish third in Serie A.
– Both Napoli and Sevilla lose in the Champions League playoffs.
