'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAhhX/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAF//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAeEAACAgEFAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEEQAFEhMhUv/aAAgBAQABPwBd5q7fXhpChSvT9pm7HjIc5Rl4E/PudJHX4LylIbHoKZxr/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/2gAIAQIBAT8Aj//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAkH/2gAIAQMBAT8ApYf/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 The outside bets
Sheffield United went into their return to the Premier League as favourites for relegation, but manager Chris Wilder has defied the odds to put his side in contention for a Champions League place. Qualification for the Europa League would have been beyond the wildest dreams for the majority of Blades fans last summer, but the approach from Wilder has shown that there are more ways to win football matches than to throw money at the biggest names.
Trending
There is a raw honesty about Wilder’s Sheffield United team that is representative of the city and the people that form their community. Their approach has embarrassed a number of bigger clubs and big-name players and managers, and their achievements alone have asked questions of their rivals across the Premier League. A Champions League place remains unlikely, but they have already shown this season that anything is possible at this unique club.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers are currently experiencing the challenge of balancing domestic and European commitments as their Europa League campaign continues. Nuno Espírito Santo has been a welcome addition to the Premier League since leading Wolves to promotion, and the ambition that pushes the club forward does not appear to have peaked with what has already been achieved. With financial support behind them, Wolves can achieve more under their manager, and Champions League qualification is the next step in this process.
To qualify for Europe’s premier club competition, Wolves need to finish above the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, and it is a situation few pundits could have pictured so relatively early into this project. However, the demands of European football this season could ironically affect their chances of reaching the biggest stage next season, but winning the Europa League offers a second chance for the club should they fail to make it through the traditional channel.
