Billy Sharp scored his second Premier League goal of the season as Sheffield United beat A.F.C Bournemouth to move to fifth in the Premier League table on 39 points after 26 matches. In his post-match comments, Sharp may have been thinking as a supporter rather than a player, when he suggested the Blades have their eyes on the Champions League, a statement in total contrast to manager Chris Wilder’s words after the match: “Europe is not something we’re thinking about.”
Sharp continued to add: “We’re just looking above us and trying to catch them now,” however, history suggests that Europe’s elite competition will be out of the Blades reach. So far this term Sheffield United have averaged 1.5 points per game from their 26 matches, meaning if they continue to average the same number of points, they will finish the season on 57.
That would comfortably be their highest total in their Premier League history, having accumulated 52 points in the inaugural 1992/93 season. Although, based on the last decade, 57 points is an insufficient total to qualify for the Champions League.
In the past ten years, the lowest number of points to qualify for the competition via league position alone is 66 by Manchester City in 2015/16. In every season since the Sky Blues scraped through on goal difference, clubs have required at least 70 points to gain entry to the Champions League via their Premier League position.
Though it is not all bad news for the Blades, in the past two seasons both Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers have gained entry to the Europa League qualifying rounds courtesy of accumulating 54 and 57 points respectively. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect that the newly-promoted side are in with a shot of a European adventure for the first time in their 130 year history – in a similar manner to Wolves having just been promoted to the top-flight.
While Sharp’s ambition is admirable, unless Sheffield United experience an upturn in form, recent history suggests it currently appears unlikely he will be belting out the Champions League anthem at the start of next season.
