Who's qualified for Champions and Europa League as Man Utd and Chelsea's fate in balance
The 2023-24 Premier League season has come to an end, with the only thing left to be decided is which teams qualify for Europe.
That's where the FA Cup comes in, as next Saturday's final between Manchester United and Manchester City is set to decide the fate of three teams: United, Chelsea and Newcastle. We already know that City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa will all play in the Champions League thanks to finishing in the top four.
Tottenham secured fifth, guaranteeing them a spot in next season's Europa League group stage. In sixth was Chelsea and they'll be in the Europa League should City win the FA Cup final.
That'd also see seventh-placed Newcastle play in the Conference League. But if United triumph at Wembley, then Erik ten Hag's eighth-placed team would play in the Europa League, Chelsea would be in the Conference League and Newcastle would miss out entirely.
Newcastle will therefore be willing City on, with boss Eddie Howe saying after his side won 4-2 at Brentford on the final day to wrap up seventh place: "Great credit to the players. They've done their job - now we wait and see."
Howe added to Match of the Day: "We anticipated after losing against Manchester United that our control of the [European] situation had gone. It's never a nice situation, but whatever happens, happens.
"We have issues to solve defensively. If we can do that, next season could be another season of really strong performances. This was a season that could have been better, but a good season overall. We're a real united club. I think we're still moving forward, so there's a lot to be positive about."
Your turn! Who'll win the FA Cup final - Man Utd or Man City? Give us your prediction in the comments section
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United at Brentford Community Stadium on May 19, 2024 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
United manager Ten Hag, meanwhile, admitted after his side's worst-ever Premier League finish: "It is not good enough by far. Although we had less than 60 points two years ago, 58 points, eighth is the worst performance.
"It is the truth but we should have done better. We knows the reasons behind, everyone knows, but it is not the right moment to go into it. It's not good enough.
"Talking about all the things we had to suffer this season, it was good to bring [injured] players back. They worked hard, desperate to play the final games of the season and especially the final next week. We get options and hopefully we will have a good week and everyone is on board. We will put a comp team out and we will fight for the cup."
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