West Ham United handed ‘good news’ as Champions League development emerges – Sky Sports journalist
West Ham have been handed “good news” after UEFA approved the new format for the Champions League, according to Sky Sports journalist Ben Grounds.
As per Sky Sports, two spots from the 2024/25 competition onwards will go to associations with the best collective performance by their clubs in the previous campaign.
Grounds noted that the Hammers are among the early front-runners for a Champions League place, alongside Aston Villa and Brighton.
“So, we have established the two leagues that have the best coefficients this season will get an additional place in the Champions League group stage next season,” Grounds wrote for Sky Sports.
“If England is one of them, fifth in the Premier League will qualify. To stress, individual club coefficient isn’t relevant, and the position will be awarded to the next team in the domestic table.
“The Premier League has been in the top two in six of the past seven seasons (in 2019-20, Germany pipped England to second by a solitary victory), so that’s good news for the likes of Aston Villa, Brighton, West Ham and Newcastle who are currently occupying fifth to eighth places in the division.”
Huge news
The Hammers have slowly but surely improved over the years, with manager David Moyes playing a key part in their recent success.
The East London club have enjoyed lengthy European runs in the Europa League and the Europa Conference League.
They of course enjoyed the ultimate success in the latter last time out, and are now looking to do the same in the former this season.
The step up won’t be easy when the knockout rounds approach, but for now the Hammers are flying high in Group A with two wins from two.
Winning the competition would be a huge moment for the men in claret and blue, but it would not be as big as the club entering Europe’s elite competition.
A Champions League place for the London Stadium outfit would be an unforgettable moment, and given their recent rise, it is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.
In other West Ham news, Moyes must seriously consider one award-winning Hammers sensation after his rapid rise.