Manchester United finished in third place in the Premier League in 2022/23, earning a spot in next season’s Champions League.
The 2023/24 Champions League is the final one in it’s current format before UEFA’s plans to complicate and expand it begin in 2024/25.
Manchester United are one of four English teams to qualify, along with Manchester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle.
And despite all 32 group stage teams yet to be confirmed, we know which qualifying pot Manchester United will be in for the draw, per AS.
Manchester United Champions League pot
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Manchester United will be in Pot 2 for the Champions League draw when it is made early next season.
Here is a breakdown of what this will mean when the draw is made…
Manchester United CANNOT draw… the other teams in Pot 2
- Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund
- Atletico Madrid
- RB Leipzig
- Porto
- Inter Milan
Arsenal are also in the same pot. If you are wondering how Real Madrid are only in Pot 2, it is because Pot 1 is reserved for league winners and the Champions League and Europa League winners.
Teams Manchester United could draw from Pot 1…
- Barcelona
- Napoli
- Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Benfica
- Feyenoord
- Sevilla
United can’t draw Manchester City, who are in Pot 1.
Teams so far confirmed in Pot 3
- Red Bull Salzburg
- AC Milan
- Lazio
- Red Star Belgrade
- Shakhtar Donetsk
Teams so far confirmed in Pot 4
- Lens
- Union Berlin
There is uncertainty whether Celtic, Real Sociedad, and Newcastle will be in Pots 3 or 4. This will depend who ends up making it through the qualifying stage.
Best case scenarios
A best case scenario for Manchester United would be to land Benfica from Pot 1, and then Red Star Belgrade and Lens from 3 and 4.
It could of course end up being a lot tougher, and in Manchester United’s case, it usually is.
But Real Madrid aside, there will be no team that clubs would rather avoid from Pot 2 than Manchester United.
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