MANCHESTER City will play in the UEFA Cup next season.
The Premier League have confirmed City have held off the challenge of Fulham to finish sixth in the English Fair Play table but crucially above any team who has not already qualified for Europe.
It means City will enter the competition at the first qualifying round stage in July on what they hope will be the start of a long run to the final in Istanbul next May.
Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson told
www.mcfc.co.uk: “It’s like the dream came true! Our dream to play in Europe has been strong all season.
“At one point we thought we were almost sure to get there, at other points we’ve been almost out of it, but now this news is absolutely fantastic for the Club, for the fans and for everyone.”
Eriksson added: “It’s a step in the right direction because the target for this Club in the future is to play in the Champions League, and the UEFA Cup is a very good school to learn about European football."
Ironically, City have already confirmed they will not be able to host the first qualifying round tie at Eastlands as the pitch is due to be relaid once a Bon Jovi concert has taken place in June.
With Old Trafford ruled out for obvious reasons and most Lancashire grounds either relaying their surface or deemed unsuitable, Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium, which usually plays host to rugby league in the summer, has been mentioned as a possible alternative.
Either way, having gained entry into the competition, one year ahead of schedule according to the blueprint of owner Thaksin Shinawatra, City will be fancied to reach the main stages in September.
While the draw for the first qualifying round is not due to be made until June 30, the Blues already know they have been placed in the Northern section.
This puts them in line to face opposition from Estonia, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Lithuania or Luxembourg, plus opposition closer to home in the form of two Northern Irish representatives Glentoran and Cliftonville, two from the Republic in Cork City and current league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic, as well as Bangor from Wales.
There is also the possibility of a rematch with Wales’ other representatives The New Saints who as Total Network Solutions, faced City when they last got into the UEFA Cup by the same route in 2003.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
david7mcfc, Manchester (16/05/2008 at 13:11)
Bishop & Morleys Bedsheets (16/05/2008 at 13:12)
p-woodhouse, gorton (16/05/2008 at 13:12)
Davey Blue, Failsworth (16/05/2008 at 13:13)
jerseyblue, jersey (16/05/2008 at 13:14)
Peter P (LEE BRADBURY CITY RUINED MY LIFE ruin my life) (16/05/2008 at 13:14)
most points ever, exciting player brought in, qualified for europe.
Sven must go ! Sack him now !!!.
black and blue, whalley range (16/05/2008 at 13:14)
OrigamiNinja, Inverness (16/05/2008 at 13:15)
I also find Svens comments of being delighted etc etc very interesting, if we also take into account that he has turned down the benfica post are these the first signs that he will still be in charge next season?
choppi blue, NY (16/05/2008 at 13:17)
Manchester City will play in next season's UEFA Cup after qualifying via the Fair Play league.
Sven-Goran Eriksson has given his reaction to today’s news that Manchester City are back in Europe, and speaking exclusively to mcfc.co.uk, Sven said: “It’s like the dream came true! Our dream to play in Europe has been strong all season.
“At one point we thought we were almost sure to get there, at other points we’ve been almost out of it, but now this news is absolutely fantastic for the Club, for the fans and for everyone.”
City finished sixth in the English Fair Play table, and with the five teams above the Blues already guaranteed European football it means for the second time now City have now qualified for the UEFA Cup via this route.
Eriksson added: “It’s a step in the right direction because the target for this Club in the future is to play in the Champions League, and the UEFA Cup is a very good school to learn about European football.
“It’s a confirmation that we are a good team, but also a team that we behave well on the pitch, we are good with the referees and we try to follow the rules as much as possible. It’s like a bonus for us.”
Oh Dont Cry For Scum Gary Neville !!! (16/05/2008 at 13:18)
The Iceman Cometh, Manchester (16/05/2008 at 13:19)
Are you watching?
Are you watching TNS?
___m___@.@____m_______
hannah x, glossop (16/05/2008 at 13:20)
that took long enough to decide!!!
woooooo come on the blues =D!!!
PhilB65, City Forever (16/05/2008 at 13:20)
Danny - Salford 'Impeccable' (16/05/2008 at 13:21)
And UEFA thought Rangers took a few to the final.....
With Manchester City you just never know.
LEE BRADBURY CITY RUINED MY LIFE (16/05/2008 at 13:21)
(Hang on though but franks selling the entire squad ??????)
It’s a joke…………………..
Blue (16/05/2008 at 13:22)
God bless City
We needed some good news.
Woohoo - new players here we come brother!
dpkmanc, Levenshulme (16/05/2008 at 13:22)
DUBLIN BLUE (16/05/2008 at 13:24)
Fireball XL5 (16/05/2008 at 13:24)
Lets get this SGE nonsense sorted out and sign some players with Europe as the bait.
9th in the Premier League & a European spot,
more than we could have ever hoped for this time last year.
Whaley Bridge cynic. (16/05/2008 at 13:24)
I went to Lokeren and Groclin and will undoubtedly follow them in Europe next Season, from Lithuania to Cyprus.
My main concern is that Mr Shinawatra is trying to take City to a place that most fans don't want to visit.
Listen to the real United fans and their moans about the ticket prices. If City ever qualify for the Champions League, you can say goodbye to a Fout Hundred Pound Season ticket. In two years time United won't have any academy players in the first team. That's the price to pay for success.This isn't a criticism of United because Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are in the same boat.
I want City to punch above their weight, but this can only be done with a Mark Hughes/David Moyes type of Manager.For all our relative success this Season, we have too many fundamental weaknesses in both the Team and the Club structure.If these aren't adressed soon then we'll be in trouble with or without Sven.
For the moment we can enjoy a little moment of good news, but the problems won't go away.
morgan (the bull), didsbury (16/05/2008 at 13:25)
Judas, Ladbroke Grove, London (16/05/2008 at 13:26)
Impeccable (16/05/2008 at 13:27)
Extra bargaining power to get the quality players that we require while keeping hold of the quality we already have.
Kippax68, Exile in Ayrshire (16/05/2008 at 13:28)
paddyc, lincolnshire (16/05/2008 at 13:28)