This article contains affiliate links, and we will receive a commission on any sales generated from it. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City faces the risk of being excluded from the Champions League. Manchester City continues its defense of the Champions League in the last 16 tie with Copenhagen. Still, concerns exist within the club regarding the potential ban from the competition next year due to Girona’s success in La Liga.
Girona’s surprising performance in Spain’s La Liga has put them in contention for the title, despite a recent defeat to Real Madrid. City Football Group has a significant stake in Girona, and UEFA rules prohibit two clubs owned by the same entity from competing in the same European competition. This raises doubts about both teams’ participation next year. While Girona is on course to finish second in their division, Pep Guardiola’s side holds a prominent position in the Premier League.
However, with a tight competition at the top, there is a possibility that City could be excluded from the Champions League if other clubs claim the top spots. UEFA is monitoring the connections between City and Girona, particularly with the expected transfer of 19-year-old winger Savio from Girona to Manchester City. The organization’s Club Financial Control Body will assess the link between the two clubs in the coming months. UEFA competition rules state that an individual or group cannot have significant control or influence over more than one club in the same tournament.
If it’s determined that there is shared control over both clubs within the City Football Group, only the top-placed team in their domestic league will be allowed to play in the Champions League, while the other would drop into the Europa League. Should Girona and City finish in the same league position, the team with the higher coefficient would be given the nod, which would likely be City after winning the Champions League in the previous season. The inclusion of affiliate links in this article does not impact the information provided.