Manchester United get massive Champions League boost as ideal scenario emerges

Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt were knocked out of the Europa Conference League on Thursday night in what could be a massive boost to Manchester United's Champions League hopes.

United loanee Donny van de Beek was not selected for Frankfurt's European squad so watched from the sidelines as his new team crashed out of the third-tier European competition to Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise. After a 2-2 draw in Brussels last Thursday, the German club underwhelmed on home soil losing the return fixture thanks to goals from Cameron Puertas and Dennis Eckert.

Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe pulled a consolation back late on but it was not enough to avoid a 4-3 aggregate defeat. While on the surface this result seems inconsequential to United, it could be the difference between Champions League qualification and the Europa League.

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Currently in England, the top four teams in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League. Next season, a format change from UEFA means more clubs will be able to qualify.

Two extra spots will be handed to the top nations in UEFA's coefficient rankings. These rankings are determined by each country's clubs' performances in all three European competitions.

At the start of the week, Germany and Italy were set to gain an extra spot each which would be awarded to the team that sits fifth in their top flight. However, Frankfurt's defeat means Germany will have one less team accumulating points for the rankings between now and the end of the season.

After this week's action, England has moved to the top of the coefficient rankings with Spain