United is now eleven points out of fourth position in sixth place Spurs.
Is Erik ten Hag likely to return to Ajax? Play the podcast “It’s All Kicking Off”Because they have grown far too accustomed to seeing it over the past few years, Manchester United supporters may feel as though Europe is edging away from them once more.
Erik Ten Hag‘s side currently sit sixth in the league, 11 points adrift from both fourth-placed Tottenham and fifth-placed Aston Villa.
The task to of trying to catch up to their competition is becoming more and more of an uphill battle.
United have failed to win some of their last five league games and with five games left to play a top-four finish is fading into the distance.
Despite this, they could still miraculously qualify for the Champions League, even if the Red Devils finish sixth thanks to a UEFA rule change. Despite sitting in sixth and being 11 points adrift from fourth-place Tottenham, United can still qualify for the Champions League even if they finish in sixth. There is still hope for Man United to make the Champions League thanks to a new rule change made by UEFA in correlation with the expansion of the competition
Thanks to a new rule introduced by UEFA this year, England are poised to receive an additional spot in next year’s Champions League.
Due to the expansion of the Champions League two leagues will earn an extra place in Europe’s top club competition.
The new rule change states that the two leagues with the best UEFA co-efficient will earn an extra slot in the competiton.
As it stands England and Italy are set to earn the two spots.
This means that the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League is set to qualify for the Champions League – but this will likely benefit either Tottenham or Aston Villa.
However, there is still a narrow chance that Man United could qualify for the Champions League, even if they miss out on fifth and finish sixth.
In order for this to happen though, a lot has to go their way. Here is how the rest of the season would have to unfold.
Erik Ten Hag will be looking closely at West Ham’s performances over the coming weeks as a Europa League win and fifth-place League finish would help United in their bid for Champions League football.
United’s Champions League fate lies largely in the hands of former manager David Moyes and his current side West Ham.
If the Hammers manage to clinch fifth place and also win the Europa League, with United finishing sixth, Ten Hags men would be poised to play in the Champions League next season.
The Hammers face no easy task if they are to win the Europa League and finish in fifth, although if they were to complete the feat, it would free up another Champions League spot for an English club.
If West Ham manage to win the Europa League and finish fifth in the League, a Champions League spot would open up for United if they finished behind them in sixth.
West Ham completing both tasks would be a big ask as their next opponents in the Europa League Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions this year
As the additional place only applies to a domestic league finish and it does not account for Champions league or Europa League winners.
This means that theoretically, if the winners of both the Champions League and Europa League are English clubs that end the season outside of the top four in the Premier League, a seventh place finish for United would be enough to see them qualify for next year’s European tournament.
However this won’t be possible this season as Manchester City and Arsenal, the two remaining teams in the Champions League are all but guaranteed a top four spot.
That would leave Ten Hag’s side hoping West Ham can leapfrog both themselves and either Aston Villa or Tottenham.
Even if David Moyes’ side pulled off that feat, they still have a mountaint to climb in the Europa League as they face a Bayer Leverkusen side undefeated in the Bundesliga this season as they march towards the title.
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Gameweek 33 of the Premier League: Verified squad updates for each club and their manager quotes
In advance of gameweek 33, Sports Mole compiles the official squad news for every Premier League team as well as the statements from their managers regarding their injury status.
ARSENAL
Gameweek 33 opponents: Aston Villa (H)
Out: Jurrien Timber (knee)
Doubtful: None
Mikel Arteta quotes: “We have got one more day to prepare the match and we will see if everyone is available. We have some [doubts] but with another day hopefully everybody is going to be OK.
“[Timber] has still got a few steps to make. He needs to play a game at least with the U23s. He is going to have an in-house game soon as well. He has done everything in training, now it’s getting that match fitness and having people around and starting to compete in matches, which is different to training.
“For everything we see in training and the time that he was fit, I think he is going to have a big, big impact in the team.”
ASTON VILLA
Gameweek 33 opponents: Arsenal (A)
Out: Emiliano Buendia (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee), Jacob Ramsey (toe), Douglas Luiz (suspended)
Doubtful: Clement Lenglet (knock), Matty Cash (hamstring)
Unai Emery quotes: “We will train tomorrow, today we recover with some players, we did compensation work. [Clement] Lenglet and [Matty] Cash are training today with the group.
“We’ll work tomorrow again and see how they will feel to get a decision about the team and the players to be available for Sunday.”
BOURNEMOUTH
Gameweek 33 opponents: Man Utd
Out: Ryan Fredericks (calf), Luis Sinisterra (thigh), Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Tyler Adams (back)
Doubtful: Chris Mepham (illness), Antine Semenyo (illness)
Andoni Iraola quotes: “The problem with Ant [Semenyo] in the past week is that he has a cold and not 100%. He played 45 minutes against Palace and was probably not at his 100%. He wanted to push and he is in good form, so we wanted him to push.
“Probably there was more risk involved, when you are not feeling well and you go to a football pitch and probably the injury risk is higher. But for me, for the technical staff, for the doctors, for him, it’s difficult to make this decision.
“Also this week we had some players that are 50/50. It is difficult to decide, because sometimes it works, sometimes they can get injured.
“I hope [Marcus Tavernier] can play the last games, but it is going to be difficult. If everything goes well, he could be available for us for the last two games, or something like this. It is tough when someone like Tav gets a muscle injury and is out for four or five games. But it is something that is happening to all of the teams and we have to accept it.
“Tyler [Adams] is improving. He is out definitely tomorrow, but it is a muscle thing. I think he can continue this improvement and he can be available next week.
“[Chris Mepham] has a health issue. Even with Ryan Fredericks, it is the same situation. I hope we don’t have more. With a cold, normally you don’t lose games, you try to push, it is sometimes decisions we have to make about if they are ready for 90 minutes or go on in the second half.”
BRENTFORD
Gameweek 33 opponents: Sheff Utd (H)
Out: Joshua Dasilva (knee), Rico Henry (knee), Ben Mee (ankle), Aaron Hickey (hamstring)
Doubtful: Christian Norgaard (back), Ethan Pinnock (ankle), Kevin Schade (adductor)
Thomas Frank quotes: “Everyone from last week, when we faced Aston Villa, is available. Ivan [Toney] is fine.
“The good news is that [Kevin] Schade is available and will make the squad – that’s very good news. And Ethan Pinnock is available as well.
[Could Ivan Toney start?] “Definitely, yes.”
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Gameweek 33 opponents: Burnley (A)
Out: Solly March (knee), Kaoru Mitoma (back), Jack Hinshelwood (foot), Billy Gilmour (knee), Adam Webster (knock), Evan Ferguson (ankle), James Milner (thigh), Tariq Lamptey (muscle), Julio Enciso (knock)
Doubtful: None
Roberto De Zerbi quotes: “The situation is tough. We still have nine injured players. It’s more or less the same squad we played against Arsenal [with], but with no Tariq Lamptey.
“Julio Enciso can’t play tomorrow. I don’t know if it’s a tough injury, but he’s not available.
“Billy [Gilmour] is better. I don’t know how much time before he can start with us on the pitch but he’s better. James Milner is the same. I think [Adam] Webster, Milner and Billy can be available in the next few weeks.”
BURNLEY
Gameweek 33 opponents: Brighton (H)
Out: Aaron Ramsey (knee), Nathan Redmond (thigh), Luca Koleosho (thigh), Dara O’Shea (suspended), Jordan Beyer (thigh), Ameen Al-Dakhil (unspecified), Han-Noah Massengo (ankle)
Doubtful: James Trafford (illness)
Vincent Kompany quotes: “[James Trafford] has been ill. He’s come back now and he looks in good spirits.”
CHELSEA
Gameweek 33 opponents: Everton (H)
Out: Wesley Fofana (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Reece James (hamstring), Christopher Nkunku (hamstring), Levi Colwill (foot), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring)
Doubtful: Ben Chilwell (illness), Cole Palmer (knock), Malo Gusto (fatigue), Axel Disasi (unspecified), Enzo Fernandez (unspecified), Raheem Sterling (illness), Robert Sanchez (illness)
Mauricio Pochettino quotes: Robert Sanchez and Raheem Sterling are both suffering from illness, while Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi are undergoing medical assessment. Ben Chilwell is back in partial training, but Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu remain on the sidelines.
“We’ll see. [Fernandez and Disasi] are under assessment. They have different types of issues. We don’t believe they are big issues but we will see if they can be available. They have not trained after Sheffield and that is why we don’t know.
“Chilly is training, partial training and see if he can be involved in the squad on Monday. It’s good news. But he hasn’t played too much this season.”
CRYSTAL PALACE
Gameweek 33 opponents: Liverpool (A)
Out: Sam Johnstone (elbow), Cheick Doucoure (Achilles), Rob Holding (ankle), Marc Guehi (knee), Chris Richards (knee), Matheus Franca (groin)
Doubtful: Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh)
Oliver Glasner quotes: “[Michael Olise] is closer [to starting] than the week before. He had the whole week training with us. It’s been a really good week and Michael was part of it, so he’s close to starting.
“Michael can’t win the game alone, but he has a big role, and all the others have a big role. We’ll need a great goalkeeper because Liverpool are a very attacking team, so everybody has a key role and we will show it again that we are competitive as a team.
“I can’t say when [Marc Guehi will return], but he’s working hard, we’re working hard, and of course we give our best. It’s a week where we have three games, so maybe it’s the week after, but we hope, at latest, against Manchester United [on 6 May].
“We have no new injuries, but Jairo [Riedewald] is coming back. He trained the whole week with us and he could be in the squad on Sunday. You always have to be careful because if a player is out for five, six or seven weeks, and it’s not like he can have one week’s training and play 90 minutes. He will have to find his rhythm, like all the other injured players.
“It’s good that at the end of the season we’re getting options back. We also hope that next week, or in the next two weeks, one, two, three players are coming back.”
EVERTON
Gameweek 33 opponents: Chelsea (A)
Out: Dele Alli (groin), Lewis Dobbin (ankle)
Doubtful: Amadou Onana (knock), Arnaut Danjuma (ankle), Idrissa Gueye (personal reasons), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring), James Garner (knock)
Sean Dyche quotes: “[Amadou Onana]’s back training, he’s been training [yesterday].
“[On Idrissa Gana Gueye] His child and family are well. So he has been training this week and should be available again.
“Jimmy Garner got a knock [on Thursday], but we are happy that’s just a knock. Dom didn’t train [yesterday] but we are pretty positive with settling him down in the next couple of days. [He has] a minor niggly hamstring which we are just being ultra careful with. He thinks he is on top of it, and the medical team are as well.
“So we are just having to watch the players and make sure they are right. Mostly, we have just got knocks at the minute, nothing that we think will affect Monday against Chelsea.
“Hopefully, providing [Danjuma] came through [yesterday], he has a bounce game today [for the Under-21s’. We are going to use that to get him some minutes, he should at least be in the thoughts for Monday’s squad.
“It’s been hard for [Gomes] with all the ups and downs of injury. I told him in the summer he could be an important player for us. He’s been so unlucky, he delivered a very good physical performance [vs Burnley] considering he hadn’t played so long. We know he has quality and he’s put himself right back in the frame for what we need going forward.”
FULHAM
Gameweek 33 opponents: West Ham
Out: None
Doubtful: Armando Broja (knock)
Marco Silva quotes: “It’s more competitive when you have all these senior players fighting for each position. It’s a big headache but it’s the best headache you can have as a coach.
“[Armando Broja] did some exams [after picking up a knock in training on Thursday] and everything is going to be OK.”
Gameweek 33 opponents: Crystal Palace (H)
Out: Joel Matip (knee), Thiago Alcantara (thigh)
Doubtful: Alisson Becker (hamstring)
Jurgen Klopp quotes: “There was no chance to play Trent [against Atalanta on Thursday]. He was on the bench because we were allowed to put 23 players into the squad. He had two sessions. Diogo didn’t have more really but the information from the medical department is [he was a] step ahead, so he can play a little bit longer.
“I think Diogo was absolutely fine [last night for] 20 minutes, it helped him a lot and now we will see what we can do from there.”
LUTON TOWN
Gameweek 33 opponents: Man City (A)
Out: Tom Lockyer (heart issue), Amari’i Bell (hamstring), Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Dan Potts (hamstring), Mads Anderson (calf), Chiedozie Ogbene (hamstring), Jacob Brown (knee), Gabriel Osho (knee), Issa Kabore (ineligible), Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh)
Doubtful: Teden Mengi (unspecified), Reece Burke (unspecified)
Rob Edwards quotes: “We’ve got seven centre halves at this club and not one has trained this week. Maybe we get one [of Teden Mengi and Reece Burke], maybe we get both, but maybe we don’t get either. Teden twice pushed through to help us win the game last week against Bournemouth and was in a lot of pain.
“[Issa Kabore] will be a big miss. He’s had a great attitude and filled in a number of positions.”
MANCHESTER CITY
Gameweek 33 opponents: Luton (H)
Out: Nathan Ake (calf)
Doubtful: Phil Foden (dead leg), Kyle Walker (hamstring)
Pep Guardiola quotes: “We are training this afternoon and we will know better how they feel.
“[Phil Foden] I would like to tell you but I didn’t see the team, I didn’t speak with the doctors. We’ll train this afternoon. After the press conference, we’ll have a meeting and we’ll see how they feel.
“[Kyle Walker] the same. I don’t know right now. Honestly. [Ederson] was ready to play against Madrid. He is ready for tomorrow and we will make the decision.
“Take a look at our games and you realise. It is simple. [Rodri] is so important for the quality he gives us. But if you have a player that doesn’t want to play then he’s not going to play. If he’s exhausted, it can happen, and another is going to play.
“I’d love to rest central defenders but we don’t have them. [John Stones and Kyle Walker] got injured so they get cannot rest. We are in big, big trouble.
“I had the feeling we were tired in the last games. We will decide tomorrow what we have to do.”
MANCHESTER UNITED
Gameweek 33 opponents: Bournemouth
Out: Luke Shaw (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Anthony Martial (groin), Lisandro Martinez (calf), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Raphael Varane (muscle), Jonny Evans (muscle), Scott McTominay (knee)
Doubtful: Marcus Rashford (knock)
Erik ten Hag quotes: “Scott [McTominay], I don’t think so. We have training, so we have a day, he will push. He’s so keen to be a part of it, but there’s questions.
“[Marcus Rashford] trained yesterday, and we’ll see how he recovers from it today. There’s another training today and then we will make the decision.
“It’s very difficult [to keep changing the defence]. Everyone who has a little bit of knowledge about football, they know it will affect your results and performances. The back four is always the foundation to get results – we didn’t have that.
“We still have to win, we know that, so then others have to take responsibility, but when you oversee it then you know it has a negative impact.”
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Gameweek 33 opponents: Spurs (H)
Out: Sandro Tonali (suspended), Sven Botman (knee), Lewis Miley (back), Callum Wilson (chest), Joelinton (thigh), Nick Pope (shoulder), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Valentino Livramento (ankle), Miguel Almiron (knee), Kieran Trippier (calf), Joe Willock (Achilles)
Doubtful: Lewis Hall (thigh), Matt Targett (Achilles)
Eddie Howe quotes: “The closest player to coming back would be Tino Livramento, he has not trained with the team but has been out on the grass. Lewis Hall has not trained at all this week, so he is a slight concern from last week. Other players are doing well in the background so I am hoping in the not-too-distant future we can get three or four back.
“Joe has been to see another specialist to check on the progress of his Achilles, which has been problematic for him. The feedback was positive. For Tottenham, I don’t think he will be available for us. We need to make sure the long-term prognosis for him is positive so he may need some rest.”
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Gameweek 33 opponents: Wolves (H)
Out: Taiwo Awoniyi (unspecified), Nuno Tavares (thigh), Willy Boly (muscle)
Doubtful: None
Nuno Espirito Santo quotes: “We still have to wait and see for Saturday. I’m sorry I cannot go much further on that. [Willy Boly] is still on treatment, unfortunately. We do not know exactly when he is going to return.
“[Taiwo Awoniyi] is starting his individual programme. I don’t have an exact timeline for when he is going to return but it is closer. Hopefully he can still help us this season.”
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Gameweek 33 opponents: Brentford (A)
Out: Max Lowe (ankle), Rhys Norrington-Davies (hamstring), Chris Basham (foot), John Egan (ankle), Rhian Brewster (hamstring), Daniel Jebbison (ill), George Baldock (calf), Tom Davies (thigh)
Doubtful: Jack Robinson (ankle)
Chris Wilder quotes: “We’ll give [Jack Robinson] every chance to be involved, but he rolled his ankle. So it’s getting that swelling down and getting him hopefully out there on the grass. It’s going to be a late decision but hopefully we’ll get him back.
“Everyone knows what we think about him. He’s a great character and a warrior so he’ll want to play and we want him to play. But we have to make sure we don’t risk him for the rest of the season. So we’ll see.
“I’m not going to put a gun to their head to get back. One of the things we’ve looked at is the risk and reward policy. We have to make sensible decisions, short term, regarding Jack. I don’t want to risk a longer-term issue and it’ll be the same for the players on that list [like Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rhian Brewster].
“The attitude of the players has been outstanding. The ones not playing and the ones who are, they all want to help the cause. They see a buzz about the group. We’ve had some disappointing days, the attitude has been spot on overall and those boys are working extremely hard, morning, noon and night, away from the lights, to get themselves back and add to the group.”
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Gameweek 33 opponents: Newcastle
Out: Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Fraser Forster (foot), Manor Solomon (knee), Richarlison (knee)
Doubtful: None
Ange Postecoglou quotes: “Not for this week [for Richarlison]. He’s close and, obviously with the weekend off next weekend, it’ll give him time to recover – and he’s on track to do that.
“Everyone else from last weekend has got through unscathed and are ready to go.”
WEST HAM UNITED
Gameweek 33 opponents: Fulham (H)
Out: Alphonse Areola (groin), Jarrod Bowen (back), Kalvin Phillips (hamstring)
Doubtful: None
David Moyes quotes: “We’re only just back today and the players have had a recovery session. I don’t think we’ll have Jarrod at the weekend and I’m not sure about Alphonse [Areola] and Kalvin Phillips.
“Dinos [Mavropanos] felt something [at Leverkusen on Thursday] but I’m not sure if it’s bad or not yet.”
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Gameweek 33 opponents: Nott’m Forest (
Out: Pedro Neto (hamstring), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (knee)
Doubtful: Hwang Hee-chan (thigh), Rayan Ait-Nouri (calf)
Gary O’Neil quotes: “Rayan [Ait-Nouri] will travel with the group. He’s had different week to the others with the slight issue he has, but it is a minor issue, nothing too significant in there. He’ll travel with the group, we’ll name the team in the morning and it gives him another day to see how he’s feeling. I envisage him being part of the matchday squad.
“[Hwang] Hee-chan’s in the matchday squad which is fantastic news for us. Cunha’s still fine and in the matchday squad. [Craig Dawson] is in the matchday squad again. For [Jean-Ricner] Bellegarde, it probably comes too early. We’ll check him in the morning, but I wouldn’t think [he] would play much of a part.
“It was the same with Pedro [Neto], when he was coming back from his significant hamstring injury. Matheus Cunha is in that process at the minute as well. [Hwang] will be similar. It’s not always minutes, the game has moved to a place where you get data on how far they’ve run and amount of sprints. We’ll have an area we feel is safe for the players and one where they start to go over that.”