Manchester United's secret meetings with UEFA staff might have become worthless

This season's finish line is within sight and Manchester United are stumbling toward it.

United had the opportunity to end the season with a flourish, but April wasn't kind and they are now staring at the possibility of failing to qualify for European football altogether.

Erik ten Hag is staring down the barrel of a gun and could become the first United manager since David Moyes to oversee a campaign that fails to qualify for Europe.

“It is very damaging,” said Ten Hag about the possibility of missing out on Europe after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal. “That is the situation we are in but still we can get there so we have the opportunities to we have to take them and fight, even when the problems are massive.

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“We have to deserve it, especially the fans, they followed us on Monday [at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace] and they understand the position we are in. Today they are behind us from the first whistle, they see the team needs backing and support so we are united, that is very good.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe reiterated the importance of qualifying for the Champions League when his investment into the club was signed off but that seems longer than just a few months ago. United's results have gotten even worse and they have looked like a mid-table side.

United have 54 points in the Premier League table and sit behind Chelsea and Newcastle, who are both on 57 points and have significantly better goal differences.

There are just two games remaining and United have Newcastle and Brighton still to play. They are fighting to qualify for the Europa League or UEFA Conference League but some fans would prefer to miss out on Europe completely than to watch United in the latter competition.

United will qualify for the Europa League if they win the FA Cup but the bookmakers have given the Reds a large price of 17/2 to lift the trophy against Manchester City.

If City prevail at Wembley, sixth place in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League, with the Europa Conference League spot moving down a place to seventh. Newcastle and Chelsea currently occupy sixth and seventh respectively and if United end the campaign in eighth, they won't compete in Europe next season.

Earlier in the season, there were fears United could potentially be barred from competing in the Europa League if French side Nice also qualified for the competition.

Ratcliffe bought Nice in 2019 and UEFA regulations state clubs that are owned by the same owners will not be allowed to compete in the same UEFA competitions.

Nice look likely to qualify for the Europa League, so that issue could have arisen, but it's thought United held talks with UEFA officials and received assurances it would be resolved. A few months later and those talks with UEFA could be made redundant, as United look unlikely to qualify for the Europa League along with INEOS-owned Nice.

The bigger picture away from that wasted effort to strike an agreement with UEFA is United will miss out on a huge chunk of revenue should they not compete in Europe. United have regularly insisted they will work within Financial Fair Play constraints and the absence of European TV revenue will inevitably impact transfer activity.

Some fans would accept that blow if they don't have to watch United in the relatively newly created Conference League. United playing in the Conference League would be considered an embarrassment and it's not a competition befitting of allegedly the biggest club in England.

But United have looked a world away from that status this season.