Chelsea and Man United can deny Tottenham Champions League spot even if Conte secures top four

The race for European football is heating up as the Premier League season heads towards a stunning climax at both the top and bottom of the division. Just 12 points separate Manchester United in third and Aston Villa in 12th, underlining just how tight it is at this stage.

Every side in that points bracket will be looking to earn a place in Europe next season, boosting their overall income as well as a chance to tour the continent. For Tottenham, back-to-back top four finishes could show some progress after recent struggles to secure those positions.

“To finish in the top four I think is a really, really good achievement for every club in the Premier League,” Spurs boss Antonio Conte reiterated last week. “You can see the table, there are important teams that in the past won important trophies and now they’re struggling for a place in Champions League.”

While there is uncertainty surrounding the Italian head coach’s future, the aim for a top four finish will remain the same until the end of the campaign. However, even if the Lilywhites manage to land a fourth-placed end to the campaign, there’s no guarantee they will play Champions League football.

Chelsea and Manchester United could be the two clubs that deny Spurs that chance due to a rule that is put in place by UEFA. That states that as many as five teams can compete in the Champions League from England, meaning if Chelsea win the competition and finish outside the top four, they would be team number five.

Add to that the possibility of Manchester United dropping out of the top four and winning the Europa League, then they would also earn passage to the tournament and would push out the team in fourth. It’s a very specific set of circumstances that requires two trophy victories and some shuffling in the table, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.