MANCHESTER UNITED’S FA Cup final triumph cost Chelsea £7million – and added to the Blues’ Profitability and Sustainability issues.
The Stamford Bridge side’s sixth place Prem finish would normally have been enough to earn them a Europa League spot alongside Spurs.
But United’s Wembley win earned the Old Trafford club a place in Europe’s second competition – and sent Chelsea spinning into the Conference.
And that will have a significant knock-on financial impact on BOTH clubs next term – with the biggest impact on the London club as they seek to balance their books after their £1bn transfer splurge over the past two years.
Uefa have redrafted the cash distribution for the three competitions with the expansion to a 36-team initial league phase.
The vast bulk of that cash pot – totalling £2.82bn – will go to the Champions League, with the Europa League prize fund £481m and the third competition worth just £243m.
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And it means a huge £36m difference in the guaranteed money Manchester City will get without kicking a ball and the MAXIMUM Chelsea can earn if they win the Conference League.
No matter what happens, City will earn a minimum £53.7m from the qualification bonus and the new merged TV and coefficient pool.
Liverpool will bag £52.1m, Arsenal £46.3 and Aston Villa, back in Europe’s senior competition for the first time since they were defending European Cup holders in 1982-3, £31.1m.
Depending on their progress, all four Prem sides could add a maximum £68.2m in prize money.
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Premier League sides deducted points and others at risk
Nottingham Forest
Deducted four points during the 2023-24 season for breaching Premier League spending limit by £34.563m. Failed in their appeal with decision upheld.
Everton
Initial 10-point deduction for 2021-22 Premier League breaches reduced to six points on appeal. Were deducted a further two points later in the 2023-24 season. Appealed, but since withdrawn following Prem survival.
Sheffield United
Hit with a two-point deduction for their finances during the 2022-23 EFL season. Will begin the 2024-25 Championship season on -2 points following their relegation from the Prem.
OTHERS WHO COULD FACE PUNISHMENT…
Manchester City
Etihad club emphatically denies the 115 allegations laid against them in February 2023. The lengthy Commission case has been scheduled to start in October or November but a final decision is not expected until March or April 2025.
Chelsea
Blues chiefs flagged up illicit payments made to agents and others during the Roman Abramovich era. Fined £8.6m by Uefa but still to be formally charged by the Prem despite an ongoing investigation.
Leicester
Foxes breached Prem PSR loss limits last season but did not have to report their 2022-23 accounts until this month because of their relegation. That puts the timetable back and means that they will probably face a Prem points deduction for the 2024-25 season following their return to the top flight.
Everton (again)
The Toffees are again at risk of breaking PSR rules and are in a race against time to raise funds and balance the books. Not only could that lead to another charge but also administration. That would lead to an automatic nine-point deduction for the 2024/25 season.
United, who would not have qualified for Europe at all without their Wembley success, will bank an initial £12.8m, compared to Spurs’ £12.4m.
Further prize money could add an extra £21.3m to their coffers if they win every game in the initial phase and go all the way.
But that means Villa would have to lose almost EVERY match to gross less than the absolute maximum either United or Spurs could earn in the Europa League.
And Chelsea, who would have started with United’s £12.8m boost if City had won the Cup Final, will start with just £5.3m guaranteed and with a MAXIMUM total prize money of £17.3m, less than a third of the amount City are certain to take.
United’s win also cost Newcastle a fraction under £5m and up to £17m after the Toon were evicted from the Conference League and any European football.
Meet Pep Guardiola disciple Enzo Maresca
ENZO MARESCA is considered among the most exciting young coaches on the planet.
Born in Italy in 1980, he managed to guide Leicester to the Championship title in his first season as Foxes boss.
His management career started at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was snapped up by Man City in 2020 to manage their Elite Development Squad.
He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title in his one season working for the Citizens – with Cole Palmer in the side.
His first senior job was with Parma but he was sacked after just a few months after failing to impress.
Despite the team playing in Serie B and Maresca having an impressive squad he was unable to get them on course for promotion.
He returned to Man City and worked as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants for the 2022/23 season as they won the Treble.
He took over relegated Leicester last summer and made an immediate impact, with the Foxes winning the Championship title.
Maresca showed his dedication to the job by living at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.
He’s considered something of a Pep disciple and has said: “For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player.”
During his playing career he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi – and alongside ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
