English Giants Manchester United have slipped below their a noisy neighboursa Manchester City in the latest round of European club coefficient rankings released by UEFA.
According to the rankings, United occupy 20th position in the table, 4 places lower than their bitter rivals City who are 16th. The UEFA club coefficient ranking system takes into account a cluba s performances on the European stage for the previous 5 years.
UEFA Club Seeding
According to the revised UEFA club coefficient ranking system, the domestic champions of the top 7 European Leagues along with the defending European champions will be placed in Pot 1. As a result, the names of European heavyweights such as FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea will be put into Pot 1.
Ten time European Champions Real Madrid will have to contend with a place in Pot 2 alongside English sides Arsenal and Manchester City. Manchester Uniteda s seeding will be decided by the outcome of their two legged playoff encounter with another European qualifier later in August.
.
(Source: UEFA)
Disastrous Season under David Moyes
The Red Devils failed to qualify for Europe altogether last season after finishing 7th in the league under David Moyes the season before. Not qualifying for Europe in 2014-15 meant that United were unable to accumulate any points under UEFAa s club coefficient ranking system for that year. This has resulted in Manchester United plummeting down the ranking table, even below European lightweights such as FC Basel, Zenit St. Petersburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
Revival under Louis Van Gaal
Last season under new manager Louis Van Gaal, United finished in 4th position and hence will have to play a two-legged qualifier in order to qualify for the Group stage of the UEFA Champions League this season. The draw for the playoffs will be made on Friday morning.
Manchester United reached the Final of the UEFA Champions League 3 times between 2008 and 2011, winning one and losing two. Uniteda s drastic slump in UEFA coefficient ranking is a direct consequence of the turmoil that has engulfed Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson from the club after 26 years at the helm. The pressure is firmly on Louis Van Gaal to propel United from the dismal lows of European oblivion to the heady heights of European glory.