Manchester City’s Champions League ban could be good news for Sheffield United
The full ramifications of Manchester City’s potential Champions League ban are not yet known – but the most surprising outcome could be Sheffield United joining Europe’s elite.
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If Manchester City’s appeal against their Champions League ban is unsuccessful, the impact could be huge – not least for one of the Premier League’s smallest clubs, Sheffield United.
It seems unimaginable that the Blades, who were only promoted last year after more than a decade out of the top flight, could be continue their dramatic ascent with a hitherto unforeseen journey into football’s richest lands.
Well, sit down, crack one open, light up and settle in. It’s a tale involving Saudi princes, poorly managed super clubs, desperate injuries and headline-making court cases.
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One of the effects of UEFA’s decision action against the reigning Premier League champions is that England retains its four places but with the second-placed team banned, this season’s fifth-placed side will get a golden ticket to the Wonka factory that is Europe’s elite football competition.
Champions-elect Liverpool have already qualified, third-placed Leicester look good to make good on their excellent season, which leaves Chelsea in fourth, Tottenham in fifth, Sheffield in sixth and Manchester United in seventh.
Who’s the odd one out here? Clearly, it’s Sheffield – but not for the reason you think.
Chelsea’s promising season under Frank Lampard is threatening to implode as the Blues struggle to manifest a clear identity and with two-thirds of the season gone they are still struggling to impose themselves on opponents.
Lampard’s team have lost five times at home already this season have managed just one win in their past 14 games.
The good will that surrounded the appointment of a favourite son of Stamford Bridge may start to evaporate if this mediocrity continues, particularly if they drop out of the European places.
And this weekend, they face the worst person possible (Not literally, just in a football sense …) when former coach Jose Mourinho takes Tottenham to his former stomping ground.
As usual with Mourinho, there is a mixture of affection and aggression when facing a former team, but his delight in spoiling other peoples’ fun remains undimmed. Spurs are just a point behind Chelsea, with a superior goal difference, so any kind of result would take Mourinho above the club that still largely defines his success.
Mourinho rarely plays these kind of games to win – he knows he only needs a draw and can set his team up to contain the game and minimise risk of losing points or face. And this seems increasingly likely following the confirmation of Son Heung-min’s fractured arm, which looks set to rule the South Korean star out for the rest of the season.
With Harry Kane not expected to return until mid-April, Spurs are now desperately short of options upfront – “a gun without bullets” Mourinho said after the midweek Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig – so his job becomes one of risk-management, doing what he must to ensure Spurs’ passage to the Champions League.
But with Wolves, Burnley, Man United, Sheffield, Arsenal and Leicester still to play, the pressure will be intense. Mourinho won’t just park the bus, he’ll dump it, slash the tyres and torch it to make sure it goes nowhere.
Two rungs down the ladder we find Manchester United, still wandering dazed and confused like the last straggler at an all-night party, unsure of where he left his phone, clothes and brain. Trying to predict his next move is a mug’s game.
So far this year, United have lost to Arsenal, beaten Norwich, lost to Liverpool, then Burnley, drawn with Wolves, then beaten Chelsea. The only thing consistent about United is their inconsistency. Their continuing inability to dominate teams that let them have the ball should be their downfall.
With a schedule that includes a number of relegation battlers plus a resurgent Everton, a fulminating Man City, an opportunistic Sheffield and an upwardly mobile Leicester, the most likely outcome appears to be staying where they are – outside the elite a club this size should be a part of.
The odd one out is Sheffield – because they are the best-managed team in this mess. Regardless of their recent introduction to the Premier League and the players at their disposal, the Blades have a better record than Manchester United.
Sheffield weekly wage bill is about $17,000 – Manchester United’s is $170,000.
But Blades coach Chris Wilder has built a highly organised and close-knit team, with, unusually for the Premier League, only a couple of talents from outside the UK. They don’t score a lot but Wilder’s team have the second-best defensive record in the Premier League.
And, unbelievably, as recently as three years ago United were in the third tier of English football. It was while the Blades were still in League One that Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz al Saud of the royal House of Saud bought a 50 per cent stake in the club for just $9.7 million.
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A former player and fan favourite, Wilder took over as coach in 2016 and quickly secured promotion back to the Championship after six years in the badlands. And after two years in the second tier, United were promoted to the Premier League in 2019 after 12 years out of the top flight.
Blades’ games are rarely high scoring affairs – but Wilder’s focus on game management and defensive solidity is why the club is where it is right now.
And while the giants surrounding them stumble and fumble in an undignifying melee to retain their seat at the big table, Sheffield United are well placed to do a Steven Bradbury, slipping through the pack to snatch a reward that would signify the biggest Premier League surprise since Leicester’s fantasy title run.
Originally published as Manchester City’s Champions League ban could be good news for Sheffield United
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