Unai Emery was defending the validity of the Europa League, a competition he has conquered on four separate occasions, at a managerial summit when Sir Alex Ferguson piped up.
“But wouldn’t you like to win the Champions League?” the legendary Manchester United manager asked. Ferguson may not have looked too favourably upon Europe’s secondary cup competition during his days in the dugout but it has become an increasingly important trophy for United in his absence. Since Ferguson retired, United have contested more games in the Europa League than its loftier counterpart.
Another disappointing Champions League campaign this season could end before Christmas, but a third-place finish in Group A would at least allow United to fall into the safety net of the familiar Europa League.
Here are all the club United could potentially face in the competition’s eloquently named knockout play-off round.
Much like the Champions League, the Europa League’s first phase consists of eight groups of four teams. Man Utd, if they are to finish third, will be up against one of the Europa League group runners-up – the winners automatically qualify for the round of 16.
At this stage of the competition, clubs from the same association are kept apart. So if West Ham United or Brighton were to finish second – Liverpool have already won their group – they could not be drawn against Erik ten Hag’s side.
United may not be able to come up against Premier League clubs but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a familiar face among their opponents. Jose Mourinho’s Roma are battling it out with Slavia Prague for top spot in Group G.
The Portuguese coach guided Man Utd to the Europa League trophy during his debut season at Old Trafford in 2017 and took Roma to the final of the competition last summer, only losing to record champions Sevilla on penalties. Mourinho has admitted he is keen to avoid a “Champions League shark” in the play-offs but would surely savour the chance to get one over the club that sacked him in 2018. When does he ever pass up the chance to demand some respect?
|
Potential opponent |
Europa League group |
|---|---|
|
Freiburg |
A |
|
Olympiacos |
A |
|
Marseille |
B |
|
AEK Athens |
B |
|
Ajax |
B |
|
Real Betis |
C |
|
Rangers |
C |
|
Sparta Prague |
C |
|
Aris Limassol |
C |
|
Atalanta |
D |
|
Sporting CP |
D |
|
Sturm Graz |
D |
|
Toulouse |
E |
|
Union Saint-Gilloise |
E |
|
LASK |
E |
|
Rennes |
F |
|
Villarreal |
F |
|
Panathinaikos |
F |
|
Maccabi Haifa |
F |
|
Slavia Prague |
G |
|
Roma |
G |
|
Servette |
G |
|
Bayer Leverkusen |
H |
|
Qarabag |
H |
|
Molde |
H |
United also made it to the 2021 Europa League final but lost a lengthy penalty shootout to a Villarreal side managed by Emery – who may well have thought back to that conversation with Ferguson as he collected his winner’s medal.
There has been plenty of personnel turnover on the pitch and in the dugout of the Spanish outfit since Emery moved to Aston Villa in the Premier League last year but Villarreal have escaped the group stage under their latest incumbent Marcelino.
Glasgow may only be a three-and-a-half-hour drive away from Manchester but Rangers are part of the Scottish association and so can be drawn against United. The Red Devils have only ever faced the Gers four times in a competitive setting, collecting three wins and a draw without conceding a single goal.
After the final round of Europa League group-stage games concludes in mid-December, the draw for the knockout play-offs (they really need to come up with something catchier for that) will be made on 18 December 2023.
As a Champions League team dropping into the competition, United will host the first game at Old Trafford and cede home advantage in the all-important second leg to their Europa League foe.
The first legs are scheduled to take place on Thursday 15 February 2024 before the ties are wrapped up – after extra time and a penalty shootout if needed – one week later on 22 February.
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