How Nottingham Forest could qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season without finishing in the top four
How Nottingham Forest could qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season without finishing in the top four
Whilst Nottingham Forest remain on course to achieve a top-four finish, a new rule could see Nuno Espirito Santo’s side qualify for the Champions League if their position slips.
In a rare sign of nerves, Espirito Santo couldn’t watch the penalties against Exeter City in Tuesday’s FA Cup victory, in which the fringe players in the Forest squad didn’t exactly stake a claim for a starting Premier League spot.
Roy Keane criticised Jota Silva against Exeter for his disappointing show against lower league opposition, perhaps adding a level of tension to the flying Forest dressing room as to whether they can hold on to their third-place position in the Premier League table.
Added to this was the concern about Taiwo Awoniyi’s fitness as the striker was carried off on a stretcher against Exeter, but Awoniyi was seen walking unaided in the dressing room to the relief of Espirito Santo who must’ve been worried about losing his only back up to Chris Wood the crucial run-in.
Two players who were rested for the FA Cup clash were Callum Hudson-Odoi after Espirito Santo was coy on whether Hudson-Odoi would play against Exeter, but the Forest manager may not need to be overly stressed about resting his squad, given the new rule on Champions League qualification.
Nottingham Forest could qualify for the Champions League in fifth
With the change to the league table system this season, the Champions League continues to evolve to a mixed reception from fans, but one new addition could greatly benefit Forest.
Two European leagues will be granted an extra Champions League place for next season’s competition, based on their club’s performances in the current season’s UEFA competitions.
As explained on the official Premier League website: “That means in the case of the Premier League, as well as the top four-placed teams, the club finishing fifth could also go straight into the Champions League.”
Detailing just how UEFA correlates a league’s performance into an extra position, the report said: “UEFA calculates which two leagues will be rewarded with an extra Champions League place by adding up coefficient points based on the performances of clubs from each league across the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
“Every win for a club in any of UEFA’s club competitions this season earns each league two points, while a draw gets one point, and there are no points for defeat. On top of that, bonus points are awarded according to where each club finish in their European league table.”
With Forest relying on their Premier League rivals to secure this extra Champions League position, the latest coefficient points are worth considering.
Where the Premier League ranks in the UEFA coefficient table
After Real Madrid beat Manchester City whilst Forest were playing Exeter, fans may be concerned about the damage this defeat may have done to the Premier League’s standing in the UEFA coefficient table.
Despite scoring no points thanks to City’s defeat, the Premier League still ranks at the top of the UEFA coefficient which will be music to the ears of Evangelos Marinakis and the rest of the Forest backroom staff.
Even better news for Forest is that even if City go out, they are the only Premier League side involved in a play off across the European competitions, meaning that the remaining six teams have at least two fixtures to earn more coefficient points.
After drawing with Liverpool in January, Virgil van Dijk said Forest have an advantage by not being in Europe as the squad can rest more, but the English club’s succeeding in Europe would be an even bigger advantage for Espirito Santo and Forest’s quest for the Champions League due to the coefficient points.
Leave a Reply