Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United or Tottenham should not be allowed to compete in the Champions League next season even if they win the Europa League.
United and Spurs are set to meet in the final in Bilbao on May 21 after securing aggregate leads heading into this week’s semi-final second leg ties.
Ruben Amorim’s side thrashed Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the away leg while Spurs beat Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt 3-1 to move a step closer to a first trophy since 2008.
However, both clubs are now guaranteed to finish outside of the Premier League’s European qualification spots – with United 15th and Spurs in 16th.
UEFA changed its rules in 2014 to allow the winners of the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League, but Wenger believes this is ‘not right’.
Former Arsenal boss Wenger told BeIN Sports: ‘No. They should qualify automatically for the Europa League but not necessarily for the Champions League.
Arsene Wenger says Europa League winners should not qualify for the Champions League
Manchester United and Tottenham are set to face off in the final in Bilbao on May 21
Wenger believes a rule change is needed so that the winners remain in the competition again
‘Especially when you’re in the Premier League where already five teams qualify.
‘I think it’s something [for UEFA] to think about and to review.
‘On the other hand people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated you need to give them that prize [Champions League].’
Since the rebranding of the Europa League, UEFA’s second biggest continental club competition, in 2009-10, no team lower than 12th has reached the final or won it.
Sevilla, 12th in LaLiga, lifted the trophy in 2023 while Fulham, who also finished 12th in the Premier League in the 2009-10 campaign, lost the final to Atletico Madrid in 2010.
United won the Europa League in 2018 during Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge and qualified for the Champions League despite finishing in sixth place.
Speaking after his side’s 4-3 defeat by Brentford on Sunday, their 16th league loss of the season, Amorim admitted his focus is now solely on Europe.
‘I think it’s stressful to lose games,’ said Amorim. ‘[But] when we’re fighting for a title it’s not stressful. I have no doubts that we are playing better and we are understanding the way we play, even in this context.
Ange Postecoglou is in the same situation as he looks to secure Spurs’ first trophy since 2008
United won the Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2016 to reach the Champions League
‘So we have to take all the hits in this moment.
‘We are losing games in the Premier League, but we are fighting for the Europa League so we need to accept that and to think about Thursday now.
‘This is the most important game for us.’
Wenger departed Arsenal in 2018 before being appointed FIFA’s head of global football development a year later. He has proposed a raft of controversial changes, including tweaks to the offside rule and a biennial World Cup.
