Man United finally receive Europa League clarity after UEFA confirms new plans

Manchester United have already had their place in the 2024/25 Europa League confirmed after winning the FA Cup last season. But Erik ten Hag's men are in for a world of change when they enter the European competition in just a few months' time.

Despite finishing eighth in the Premier League - and therefore not qualifying for any of the three UEFA tournaments via their placing - United ensured that they would be in Europe for the eighth straight year. Not since the 2014/15 season, which came after David Moyes' struggles in 2013/14, have they been outside of both the Champions League and Europa League.

But come the start of the new season there will be a new system in place with wholesale changes. Alongside the Conference League and Champions League, instead of eight different groups, 36 teams will be placed into one giant league table for the first phase of the tournament.

The governing body has now released fresh guidance to explain the changes, with a new 'Swiss model' in place. Come the end of the eight-match group stage between September and January (extended for the extra two games), 24 sides will progress into the knockout phase. The Conference League follows a slightly different league phase.

The point system used during the group will remain consistent with top-flight leagues though - three points per win, one per draw - and the split of home-away group games will be equal, but with four rather than three as has been the norm for years since the European Cup rebrand. Teams will be seeded into four pots of nine teams to decipher which opponents are played, against eight different teams.