Premier League rivals West Ham United and Aston Villa have made it easier for Newcastle United to qualify for Europe next season.
Aston Villa and West Ham United both dominated their European games on Thursday, defeating Ajax and Freiburg 4-0 and 5-0, respectively, with the results boosting Newcastle United’s chances of qualifying for one of UEFA’s three club championships next season.
With West Ham reaching the Europa League quarterfinals and Aston Villa reaching the Europa Conference League final eight, the Premier League now has a better chance of securing one of the two additional Champions League spots next season.
Two European leagues will get an extra place in the competition depending on their performance this season, as defined by UEFA’s coefficient rankings. Before this week’s matches, Italy and Germany were ranked first and second in the UEFA coefficient table, with England in third position.
However, England still has five teams in Europe, compared to Germany’s three, and are currently big favourites to overtake them in the UEFA rankings. This will have an impact on the Premier League’s Europa League and Europa Conference League standings.
If a Premier League team wins the FA Cup and finishes in the top seven, sixth and seventh place will qualify for the Europa League, while eighth will receive a position in the Europa Conference League. Newcastle is currently ranked 10th in the table, two points behind Brighton in eighth.
Not only do Villa and West Ham’s victories boost Newcastle’s hopes of a second consecutive European finish, but they also serve as a reminder to any pessimistic Magpies fans that the Champions League isn’t the only competition worth qualifying for.
The full-time scenes at Villa Park and the London Stadium were fantastic for home fans, as both teams are now poised to potentially reach the final rounds of both tournaments. West Ham, which won the Conference League last season, understands how much fun it can be to compete in UEFA’s lower-tier competitions.
Many have written Newcastle off this season, given its stuttering nature and how disappointing the campaign has been overall after last season’s massive highs. Eddie Howe clearly does not see it that way, and he will be more aware than most that European qualifying remains a possibility between now and mid-May.
“I don’t think I need to increase my appetite beyond what it is. I am committed to accomplish our utmost potential, whatever that may be. “I’m not sure what that is right now,” Howe remarked earlier this month.
“Whatever competition it could be we will take with open arms and we are determined to try to get back into Europe if possible.”
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