Tottenham may be dealt a £56million blow soon with Paul Merson backing Aston Villa to pip Ange Postecoglou’s side to fourth place in the Premier League.
After Bayern Munich beat Arsenal in the week, a new blow was dealt to the hopes of an expanded coefficient where a fifth-placed finish would see them qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News [20 April], Merson shared: “Tottenham have got the hardest games. I’ve got to go with Aston Villa, I think Tottenham are so up and down at the moment, the Fulham result where they got slaughtered then last week against Newcastle, they need some consistency.
“I like the manager, don’t get me wrong, and I like the way they play, but I don’t know if he’ll be able to carry it on next season. The fans have been great but they won’t have that. It will have to change.”
How much money would Tottenham make from Champions League?
In financial records shared via the official Tottenham website [3 April], Spurs announced an increase in revenue across key factors such as UEFA prize money, TV and Media revenue and commercial revenue.
As per the records, the club’s UEFA prize money rocketed from £10.2million in 2022 to £56.2million in 2023, highlighting the difference between a group-stage exit from the Europa Conference League (albeit impacted by COVID-19) and reaching the Champions League round of 16.
UEFA have predicted the revamp to the competition’s format would push the total TV money available across European competitions up to £4.2billion, a 33% rise. Fox Sports reported that UEFA have pledged to also award £2.1bn in prize money across the Champions League clubs.
According to the Daily Record [10 February] each club is expected to receive an increased starting payment just for qualifying, £16.08m next term, while more complicated formulas will be used to distribute the TV and coefficient money.
With the new format guaranteeing league stage clubs four home games, and with the Spurs stadium worth a “staggering” £4.9m per game [Swiss Ramble, 8 April], Merson’s recent verdict would see a huge blow to the club.
Could Tottenham pip Aston Villa to Champions League place?
With six games left of the Premier League season, Postecoglou’s side remain three points behind Aston Villa with a game in hand, albeit with worse goal difference, knowing a win would see them close the gap to qualification.
The best chance to qualify would come as a result of winning the rest of their games this season, but as Merson shared, their games will prove tough tests and Villa may head into the run-in as the favourites.
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