Why Arsenal, Chelsea and more could be hoping Man City win the FA Cup

Posted Tuesday, March 19, 2019 by 101 GREAT GOALS

An early start to next season may await one of the Premier League's top clubs, in the case that Manchester City fail to win the FA Cup.

Swansea 2-3 Man City

Pep Guardiola's Citizens ensured that their dream of an unprecedented quadruple remained alive and well on Saturday evening, after travelling to the Liberty Stadium for an FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Swansea City.

Hosts Swansea actually raced out to a surprise 2-0 lead inside the matchup's opening half-hour, courtesy of goals from Matt Grimes and Bersant Celina.

But, despite City having looked some way short of their best throughout proceedings, the Sky Blues overturned their deficit over the course of the game's closing 20 minutes to eventually emerge with a 3-2 win.

After Bernardo Silva pulled one back in the 70th-minute, Sergio Aguero's penalty rebounded home off the back of the unfortunate Kristoffer Nordfeldt 8 minutes later, before Aguero completed the comeback with a diving header (from an offside position) 2 minutes from time.

City have since been pitted against Brighton in the competition's semi-finals, and, with Watford and Wolves set to battle it out in the FA Cup's other final-4 tie, the Premier League champions are, understandably, viewed as overwhelming favourites to secure the title on the 18th of May.

FA Cup ramifications

As mentioned above, though, City themselves will likely not be the only of England's top sides keeping a close eye on the outcome of this season's FA Cup.

In fact, it is altogether possible that one of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham will be rooting for City to go all the way in the tournament.

This is due to the fact that the outcome of the FA Cup is likely to have a direct effect on one of these sides.

The winner of England's premiere cup competition secure a Europa League group-stage berth for the following season. This is of course only the case, though, if the club in question haven't already clinched European football based on their league finish.

As such, if City, who will no doubt have already made sure of their Champions League place for next season by the time the FA Cup final rolls around, do go on to emerge victorious from the competition, then the Europa League group-stage spot will go to the club that finish 6th in the Premier League.

Potential knock-on effect of City coming up short

However, if Pep Guardiola's men fail to win the FA Cup, then the side that finish 6th in the English top-flight would enter the Europa League in the 2nd qualifying round.

This berth would generally go to the winners of the League Cup, but Manchester City of course already clinched that title last month.

As such, if one of Wolves, Watford or Brighton clinch FA Cup glory, then any of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea or even Tottenham could be forced to begin their season on the 25th of July, 16 days before the Premier League kicks off.

The club in question would also be required to play 6 matches before actually reaching the Europa League's group stage.

This could, however, be avoided, if the club who finish 6th in the Premier League win either the Champions League or Europa League this season.