UEFA have already announced Europa League rule changes that can benefit Man United next season

Manchester United will compete in the Europa League next season despite signing off their 2021/22 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

Former United winger Wilfried Zaha netted the only goal of the game to condemn United to their fourth defeat in their last six matches, meaning interim boss Ralf Rangnick marked his final game in charge with another defeat. Fortunately, West Ham United also lost on the final day of the campaign, meaning United didn't slip down to seventh.

That means they will join Arsenal in competing in the Europa League next season. West Ham will compete in the Europa Conference League.

United entered this season with aspirations of competing for the Premier League title, meaning the prospect of missing out on Champions League football probably never crossed their minds. However, despite bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club and signing Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, United will have to settle for Europa League football next term.

The reality of missing out on Champions League football hit home last month, when Rangnick, following the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, admitted their top-four hopes were over, although the mathematics suggested otherwise. United, even though they required snookers, were still in with an outside chance. But the Europa League is not all bad.

"I mean, it’s bad enough that we aren’t going to play on a Tuesday and Wednesday night in the Champions League," Rangnick told United's in-house media ahead of the final day clash with Palace. "But knowing that we are going to play Thursday evening, I think it's important.

"Even more so for the players, also for our supporters that we qualify for