Tottenham must finish strong in the Premier League as UEFA figures emerge
Tottenham would have already known the importance of finishing in the top four this season, but the latest figures published by UEFA further emphasise that importance.
Spurs have spent the season out of Europe after finishing eighth in the Premier League last year.
While many of their rivals have had the joy of travelling around the continent this season and taking on some of the world’s best teams, Ange Postecoglou and his players have stayed put in England.
However, that could now pay off for the North London outfit, who will be able to pay their undivided attention to the Premier League during the run-in.
While Aston Villa and other teams in and around Spurs will have to juggle between multiple competitions, Postecoglou and his players will have a clear run at the Premier League which will increase their chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League once more.
And as the latest figures published by UEFA reveal, this is very important not just from a footballing perspective, but from a financial one.
Tottenham have money to make in the Champions League
Last season started with so much promise for Spurs.
Following Antonio Conte’s arrival at the club, Tottenham pipped their North London rivals Arsenal to a top-four finish and qualified for last season’s Champions League in the process.
Nonetheless, things quickly unravelled for Conte and his players throughout the 2022/23 season and the Italian would eventually leave the club.
One of the most disappointing aspects of his reign was an underwhelming European campaign which saw Spurs scrape through their group by the skin of their teeth before being knocked out in the Round of 16 by AC Milan after failing to score in either the home or away leg as they fell to a 1-0 defeat on aggregate.
Meanwhile, their London rivals West Ham had arguably one of their greatest-ever seasons as they lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League. However, while that certainly provided more joy, it did not bring more cash into the club.
As per football finance expert Kieran Maguire on X (8 February), Tottenham banked £56.1million last season for their failed Champions League exploits while West Ham pocketed a measly £18.8million in comparison, despite lifting their trophy.
That is a difference of £37.3million, perhaps enough to sign a top-quality player, and showcases the importance of qualifying for the Champions League as opposed to the Europa or Conference League.
In addition, there is more money up for grabs the further you go or if you are involved in a more lucrative tie. Liverpool were also eliminated in the Round of 16 but received £72million after their showpiece doubleheader with Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Chelsea pocketed £81.9million after they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Madrid with eventual winners Manchester City banking a whooping £115.2million after defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final on 10 June.
It is clear that the Champions League is where the money lies, and Postecoglou and his players now have an even greater incentive to finish the season strong and ensure they are competing in Europe’s biggest tournament next season, starting with three points in their clash with Brighton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 10 February.
In other Tottenham news, one 100 per cent Spurs ace has been spotted in training ahead of the showdown with Brighton on Saturday.
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