- Manchester United have been crowned FA Cup champions
- This means Manchester United have now qualified for Europe next season
- Have Chelsea offered Manchester United a way out of the Erik ten Hag darkness through Mauricio Pochettino’s exit? – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast
Manchester United and Manchester City met at Wembley for the second year in a row to battle it out to be crowned FA Cup champions.
Not only was a win crucial for both sides to claim bragging rights in Manchester but the outcome of the final also determined which English teams would be playing in Europe next season.
Erik Ten Hag‘s men produced the worst season finish in the Premier League era by a Manchester United team in the club’s history, finishing 8th and missing out on a spot in Europe for the first time in ten years.
However, Bruno Fernandes and Co knew a win at Wembley could somewhat salvage their season and it would see them playing European football next season.
Here is how Manchester United winning the FA Cup final has impacted Chelsea and Newcastle and their roles in Europe next season.
Manchester United and Manchester City met in Wembley for the second straight year in the FA Cup Final
This year however there was a lot more at stake – as this time the winners would decide who plays in Europe next season
The outcome of the FA Cup final was crucial in deciding which teams play in Europe next season.
Both Newcastle and Chelsea would have been rooting for the blue side of Manchester to win the FA Cup as all would remain the same in terms of who goes to Europe and not.
By finishing sixth in the table Chelsea were guaranteed a place in Europe regardless of the outcome at Wembley.
Although a City win would have meant they would go straight into the Europa League.
Since that is now not the case as United caused one of the biggest of upsets over their rivals, Chelsea will now be playing Conference League football next year.
Newcastle, meanwhile, were solely relying on the four-in-a-row League winners to lift the FA Cup trophy to secure their place in Europe.
United’s success nonetheless means that the Toon miss out completely.
If Manchester City managed to win, then all would have stayed the same.
Manchester United’s teenagers Mainoo and Garanacho stunned Manchester City to beat the four-in-row League champions
How it looks for English teams in Europe next season
Since the FA Cup winners qualify for next year’s Europe League, the outcome at Wembley was instrumental in deciding Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle’s European fate.
Since Manchester United won the FA Cup final, the English teams in Europe will look as follows:
- Champions League: (1st) Man City, (2nd) Arsenal, (3rd) Liverpool, (4th) Aston Villa
- Europa League: (5th) Tottenham, Man Utd (as FA Cup winners)
- UEFA Conference League: (6th) Chelsea
