Man United, Man City and Arsenal to lose top-seed status in Champions League next season

Van Gaal and Wenger will have a lot to think about when they return to Champions League next season

Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City to suffer a massive blow after UEFA decided to revise their Champions League seeding system.

According to new regulations, both City and United will not be top seeds in Champions League group-stage draw next season. Of course, this is assuming both teams will qualify for Champions League football next season.

Uefa’s new Champions League regulations have been published and state: “The first group comprises the title holder (top seed) and the domestic champions of the seven top-ranked associations in accordance with the access list.

“If the title holder is one of the top seven associations’ domestic champions, the group is completed with the champion of the association ranked eight.”

The new seeding system will only consider the champions of top 7 leagues and the previous Champions League winners as the top seeds for the tournament.

If the Champions League winner turns out to be one of the top 7 league winners, then the winner of the 8th ranked association - Holland's PSV Eindhoven - would be named as top seeds.

It will be a massive blow for Manchester United who are all set to make a return to European football next season.

The new set of co-efficient rules suggest United and Arsenal - who will be second seeds - will face a tough group-stage draw in Champions League next season.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have dropped out of top 16 European clubs according to new co-efficient rankings and will face one of the toughest Champions League draws next season.

It would be first time in over a decade when both, Man United and Arsenal will not be top seeds in European football.

Explaining the changes made to the seeding system, Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said: “Football is about winning, it’s about competition, it’s about sporting merit.

"I think it’s kind of a natural thing to give to those who have won a competition a special treatment like this.”