We are very close to something historic happening. It is possible that next year England will be better represented in the European competitions than ever before, with perhaps as many as eight teams competing in them.
We may have the chance to witness something that has never happened before next season. Up to eight English teams could play in European competitions in the 2023/2024 campaign, but why is that?
Well, normally in England the top six in the table after the end of the season are the ones who qualify for European competitions: the champions, runner-up, third and fourth play in the Champions League; both fifth and sixth seal their place in the Europa League while the seventh, in case the winners of the FA Cup or EFL Cup finish in the top six, secure Conference League football the following season.
Manchester United were EFL Cup champions after beating Newcastle in the final, while the Red Devils are also within touching distance of FA Cup glory in what promises to be a fantastic final against Manchester City. Given that the case mentioned in the previous paragraph applies, this year's seventh-placed team from this season will play in the Conference League.
Now, what about the eighth English team we are talking about in this article? It turns out that the winner of the Conference League plays in the Europa League the following season by virtue of being crowned champions, and the fact is that West Ham face Fiorentina in the final. So if the Hammers manage to lift the trophy, for the first time in history there will be eight English teams playing in European competitions in the same season.
Champions League: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle
Europa League: Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham*.
Conference League: Aston Villa.