Last December, Manchester United contrived to crash out of the Champions League in Leipzig. This year, fortunately there was no last group game drama.
The 2-0 win in Villarreal at the end of last month booked United’s place in the last 16 and rendered the home clash against Young Boys as a practice match.
Prize money unlocked
As reward for reaching the last 16, Manchester United are set to gain £8.2 million, report The Mirror.
The last 16 prize money was a figure United missed out on in the 2020/21 season after being knocked out in the group stages.
This comes in addition to the £13.4 million United earned for reaching the group stages.
Prize money is awarded during the group stages for wins and draws. United’s three victories and two draws earned a total of £8.8 million.
So in total, regardless of what happens next, United have earned £30.4 million in Champions League prize money already this season.
Up for grabs
Reaching the quarter-finals would earn United a further £9.1 million. The semi-finals would then earn an additional £10.8 million.
Just reaching the final guarantees £13.4 million, and the victors land £3.8 million plus £3 million by qualifying for the UEFA Super Cup. Win that, and an additional £1 million is unlocked too.
The trophies are for the glory, and silverware is what has eluded United in recent years. The prospect of extra money is an added bonus which can be reinvested into the team.
Poor recent record
Since reaching the quarter-finals under David Moyes in 2014, Manchester United have only matched this feat once, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.
In years in between or thereafter, the side have either failed to qualify for the Champions League in the first place, been knocked out in the group stages, or once in the last 16 under Jose Mourinho in 2018.
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