The Premier League has clarified West Ham United’s Champions League hopes and it’s very exciting news indeed.
Earlier today we laid out the gruelling fixture list on the horizon for West Ham in the 22 days after the international break.
And it promises to very much shape the rest of West Ham’s season after a fine start on all fronts.
West Ham have enjoyed an excellent start to the new season and sit seventh in the Premier League table approaching the quarter-way stage.
David Moyes’ side are also top of their Europa League group with two wins from two as they compete in their third consecutive European campaign for the first time in West Ham’s 128-year history.
So can the Hammers make it four in a row and even take that next step up to the holy grail that is the Champions League?
West Ham missed out on top four and Champions League qualification by a solitary win in the 2020-21 season.
We reported on Hammers News last week that finishing fifth in the Premier League this season will likely be enough to see West Ham qualify for Europe’s top competition as it takes on a completely new format.
Now the Premier League has clarified West Ham’s Champions League hopes and it’s very exciting news indeed.
The Premier League’s official site has confirmed that fifth place is highly likely to result in England’s top flight being handed an extra Champions League spot this season ahead of the format change – which you can read all about here.
And the site has even named West Ham as one of a group of teams in with a realistic chance of making that fifth spot.
“In the opening eight rounds of the 2023/24 Premier League season a new middle class has emerged, seeking out UEFA Champions League football,” the Premier League site states in its article titled ‘Race for Europe: Who can climb into Champions League spots?’
“Changes in the qualification rules mean the Premier League could receive a fifth Champions League spot this season, and despite the existence of a supposed “Big Six” there are four other clubs who have a realistic shot at grabbing that extra place.
“For one of Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United or Newcastle United to make it, they will need to put together another strong sequence of results before the November international break in a month’s time.”
West Ham do of course have another route to Champions League qualification. They will get a seat at Europe’s top table if they win this season’s Europa League.
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