- Newcastle United have qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season
- The Magpies drew 0-0 against Leicester City to be guaranteed fourth place
- They will make their first appearance in 20 years in Europe’s most prestigious competition
Newcastle United will play in the UEFA Champions league for the first time in 20 years next season, but a harsh reality of a long-time absence awaits them.
The Magpies drew 0-0 against relegation-threatened Leicester City on Monday night and are guaranteed a fourth-place finish with 70 points regardless of what happens between Liverpool and Manchester United.
Eddie Howe has masterminded a dramatic turnaround at the club since his appointment after the Saudi Public Investment Fund took over in 2021.
Source: Getty Images
The team were in the relegation zone, sitting 19th on the table and in just a little over a year, he has brought them out of the troubled waters and is set for a European adventure next season.
Newcastle’s long-term absence costly
The Toons will face a brutal return to Europe’s elite club competition next season financially, as they have no coefficient ranking and will settle for low remuneration.
According to The Sun, Manchester City are guaranteed £58m before they even kick the ball, while Newcastle will receive £21.5m, less than half of Arsenal, who have also been away for seven years, and Manchester United, who could take the last spot.
They will take less than £1m from the controversial “ten-year historical coefficient pot”, with £522m available to qualifying clubs. City takes £28.67m, while United and Arsenal take £24.72m and £21.75m, respectively.
According to India Today, Howe remains humble despite the achievement, and admitted to four was not the goal at the beginning of the season, but he only wanted his team to be better.
What if City wins UCL?
Sports Brief previously analysed what will happen if City wins the Champions League and deduced it has no advantage for Premier League teams.
City are already qualified for next season’s competition and are in the Champions League final. Before it was scrapped, a fifth PL team will be in the competition.
It would be a direct advantage to Ukraine's Premier League champions as the highest-ranked team not to have attained automatic qualification.
