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REVEALED: Manchester United’s early exit from the Champions League has cost them a minimum of £ 8.6 million, with winning the competition worth a staggering £ 60 million, and they will only pocket £ 12.6 million if they make it up to the end of the Europa League.
Manchester United’s loss to RB Leipzig not only sent shockwaves through the football world that the club is still wavering at the highest level, it also spread more ripples in the finances of the Premier League giants.
The Red Devils will not participate in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the second year in a row after losing 3-2 in Germany when all they needed was one point to reach the knockout stages.
United did not qualify for Europe’s top prize last season and instead competed in the Europa League, but fell at the first hurdle upon their return.
Manchester United players look dejected after exiting the Champions League in the group stage
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team lost 3-2 to RB Leipzig in Germany on Wednesday night
United, whose executive vice president is Ed Woodward (above), has lost £ 8.6 million.
The long-term impact the setback will have on the pitch remains to be seen (manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under increasing pressure), but his anticipated departure from European elite competition will be felt in the end.
Losing a place in the round of 16 has cost United a minimum of £ 8.6 million. To put that in perspective, if Solskjaer’s team were to win the Europa League, they would pocket just £ 12.6 million.
The Champions League is the holy grail and winning it is worth £ 60 million and that’s before the bonuses.
All 32 teams taking part in the competition receive a coefficient ranking from UEFA organizers based on their previous 10-year history in Europe. United ranked seventh this season behind Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea and Juventus.
United, who have won the European Cup three times, have not made it past the quarter-finals of the Champions League since reaching the final of the 2010-11 season, which they lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
Though through that system United has added £ 26 million to the coffers and must also get its share of the TV rights market.
United continue to feel the effects of empty Old Trafford with games behind closed doors
The amount United will raise is calculated from where they finished last season in the Premier League (third) and how many games they have played in the Champions League this campaign.
Falling well below expectations by falling into the group stage reduces United’s market share.
All of this comes at a time when soccer clubs, including powerhouses like United, are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic strongly.
The Premier League club revealed in October that its debt soared 133% to £ 474.1 million in a successful season.
The Red Devils have been severely damaged by the fact that their 76,000-capacity stadium has been empty for nine months and matches are played behind closed doors.
United striker Marcus Rashford looks dejected during the group stage tie against RB Leipzig
United last won the Champions League, which can bring millions to a club, in May 2008.
Manchester is also in the third tier in the new regional government system, which means there are no signs of supporters returning to the stands anytime soon.
United benefit greatly from the earnings of the day due to the size of Old Trafford, as well as the enormous hospitality operation that goes on in every game.
The Red Devils last won the Champions League in 2008 with legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm. United’s decline since his departure is well documented, but Solskjaer has been tasked with trying to bridge the gap at national and European level.
Rivals Liverpool and Manchester City have been way ahead in recent seasons and now, despite a solid start to their return to the Champions League, United have had another bump along the way.
The Champions League attracts top talent and ultimately helps with the transfer of funds to buy world-class stars. The prize money gap between Europe’s main table and its second tier is huge.
United simply can’t afford to dine at the latter for much longer.
