Manchester United booked their spot in next season’s Champions League following a resounding 4-1 Premier League win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have returned to the elite club competition after just one season away and they will enter the group stage draw from Pot 2.
Pot 1 will consist of the champions from Europe’s top six or seven leagues based on UEFA co-efficient rankings as well as the Champions League and Europa League winners.
As things stand, Manchester City, Barcelona, Napoli are guaranteed their spots.
They could be joined by Feyenoord (or) Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Roma (or) Sevilla.
Pot 1 (with UEFA co-efficient rankings)
Manchester City (first)
Barcelona (ninth)
Napoli (19th)
Feyenoord (35th) or Inter Milan (10th)
Paris Saint-Germain (sixth)
Borussia Dortmund (14th)
Benfica (17th)
Roma (11th) or Sevilla (12th)
Pot 2 will obviously consist of Manchester United.
Alongside them, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto and Arsenal are guaranteed their places.
Inter are currently in Pot 2 but could be in Pot 1 if they win the Champions League final.
In that case, Dutch champions Feyenoord could drop into Pot 3 of the group stage draw.
Shakhtar Donetsk would benefit the most, moving into Pot 2 ahead of Feyenoord.
Pot 2
Bayern Munich (second)
Real Madrid (fifth)
Manchester United (seventh)
Atletico Madrid (15th)
RB Leipzig (16th)
Porto (20th)
Arsenal (23th)
Inter Milan (10th) or Shakhtar Donetsk (25th)
Here are how Pots 3 and 4 could look like as things stand.
Pot 3
Red Bull Salzburg (27th)
Lazio (42nd)
Red Star Belgrade (43rd)
Shakhtar Donetsk (25th) or Feyenoord (35th)
Dinamo Zagreb (29th)
Rangers (31st)
AC Milan (36th)
Braga (40th)
Pot 4
Celtic (57th)
Newcastle (N/A)
Copenhagen (44th)
Young Boys (51st)
Real Sociedad (52nd)
Galatasaray (55th)
Union Berlin (94th)
Lens (N/A)
United will find out their opponents later this year. In the worse case scenario, they could get a group of death involving Paris Saint-Germain, Lazio/AC Milan and Real Sociedad.
However, it could also play into their favour. An easier draw could see them face the likes of Feyenoord, Dinamo Zagreb and Celtic. Erik ten Hag would no doubt prefer the former.
The Dutch tactician has regularly said that he wants United to beat the best to win any competition. He would relish the challenge of a testing group involving Europe’s best.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
