Despite languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, there is still a chance that Spurs could qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Tottenham Hotspur’s absence from the UEFA Champions League
You have to go back three years to find the last time Tottenham Hotspur played in the UEFA Champions League. Since then, the club has had stints in the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League.
This season, with the Lilywhites firmly in the bottom half of the Premier League table, there is a strong possibility that they will miss out on European football entirely.
Failure to land in the European spots would have financial repercussions for the Lilywhites, as they stand to lose £31 million if they fail to finish in at least fifth position.
UEFA coefficient could see Spurs return to the Champions League
However, despite their league position, Spurs still have a chance to make a return back to the UEFA Champions League next season.
The rebranding of the UCL format could work in favour of the north London club, because of the UEFA coefficient points.
It has been announced that two leagues will be given an extra UEFA Champions League qualification spot next season; depending on how clubs fare in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
UEFA calculates coefficient points, with top European leagues competing in a ranking system known as the association club coefficient.
Clubs earn two points for every win and one point for a draw in UEFA competitions, while no points are awarded for losses.
The total points collected by clubs from each league are added up and divided by the number of teams that began the season in UEFA competitions. This determines the league’s average coefficient score.
Currently, England is in a good position to claim the additional fifth UEFA Champions League spot, but La Liga and Serie A remain close contenders.
Here is the current country coefficient standing as seen on the UEFA Champions League official website:
| Association | Points | Clubs | Average Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 146.250 | 7 | 20.892 |
| Italy | 138.500 | 8 | 17.312 |
| Spain | 120.250 | 7 | 17.178 |
| Portugal | 73.750 | 5 | 14.750 |
| Germany | 117.375 | 8 | 14.671 |
How Tottenham Hotspur could return to next season’s UCL
Therefore, if Tottenham Hotspur are to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, without finishing top five in the Premier League, they must win the UEFA Europa League as the champion of the competition is granted automatic qualification to the Champions League.
Another way Spurs could secure European football is by finishing in the top six. As it stands, fifth place in the Premier League guarantees a Champions League spot, while sixth position earns a place in the Europa League.
With 14 games remaining in the Premier League this season, Spurs must be nearly flawless to close the gap on fourth and fifth place – given their inconsistencies, winning the Europa League remains their best chance of playing in next season’s Champions League.