Theoretically...

[giokingkladze]

If we were to finish 4th and have to enter the Champions League through a qualifier, is the draw seeded? And how likely are we to be seeded in said draw?

[BlueinBosnia]

We go into the final round for non-champions. It's unlikely we'll be seeded, due to our comparatively low UEFA coefficient, and we'll probably playing someone of the calibre of Arsenal, Kiev, Marseille. There are 10 teams in this round, five of which come through a previous non-champions' round.

Rubin Kazan & Benfica are the only two teams so far confirmed to be in the non-champions' route, but they enter the round previously.

[Dingus McDouchey]

Oh dear. third it is then.

[Slim]

We go into the final round for non-champions. It's unlikely we'll be seeded, due to our comparatively low UEFA coefficient, and we'll probably playing someone of the calibre of Arsenal, Kiev, Marseille. There are 10 teams in this round, five of which come through a previous non-champions' round.

Rubin Kazan & Benfica are the only two teams so far confirmed to be in the non-champions' route, but they enter the round previously.

Where exactly are Arsenal going to finish for us to face them?

[bigblue]

We go into the final round for non-champions. It's unlikely we'll be seeded, due to our comparatively low UEFA coefficient, and we'll probably playing someone of the calibre of Arsenal, Kiev, Marseille. There are 10 teams in this round, five of which come through a previous non-champions' round.

Rubin Kazan & Benfica are the only two teams so far confirmed to be in the non-champions' route, but they enter the round previously.

Where exactly are Arsenal going to finish for us to face them?

4b

[BlueinBosnia]

We go into the final round for non-champions. It's unlikely we'll be seeded, due to our comparatively low UEFA coefficient, and we'll probably playing someone of the calibre of Arsenal, Kiev, Marseille. There are 10 teams in this round, five of which come through a previous non-champions' round.

Rubin Kazan & Benfica are the only two teams so far confirmed to be in the non-champions' route, but they enter the round previously.

Where exactly are Arsenal going to finish for us to face them?

Hence the words 'of the calibre of'. I was giving a range of standards of team we are most likely to face, based on our UEFA Coefficient for next season, and the general level of seeded teams in the round.

[BlueinBosnia]

Oh dear. third it is then.

This is what I've been saying all season.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

I'm not sure the teams will be quite as good as Arsenal, but this is the Champions League, so the teams are going to be decent. We have to step up.

[BlueinBosnia]

I'm not sure the teams will be quite as good as Arsenal, but this is the Champions League, so the teams are going to be decent. We have to step up.

As good as Arsenal the season before last, who were one of the seeded teams...

And also as good as Arsenal if they finish fourth behind us this year.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

I'm not sure the teams will be quite as good as Arsenal, but this is the Champions League, so the teams are going to be decent. We have to step up.

As good as Arsenal the season before last, who were one of the seeded teams...

And also as good as Arsenal if they finish fourth behind us this year.

Through the non-Champs path this (last) year we would've got Young Boys, Braga, Sevilla, Bremen, Sampdoria, Zenit, Auxerre, Kyiv, Ajax

Would've fancied our chances v all those (except Kyiv obviously) over Arsenal. I suppose I think English teams are just better, Spurs went some way to showing that this year.

Fact is we'll still have to step up though. We play like we did away at Kyiv, run over.

[psut1]

We will play the champions of a non top 12 european country such as Copenhagen

from the article in the independant

Mancini will not need to impress on his players the value of avoiding the Champions League qualifying round. The draw for that would pitch the continent's "non champions" contingent, including City, against the champions of those countries outside Europe's top 12. At worst, that could mean a two-leg encounter in August with FC Copenhagen, whose extraordinary campaign in the Danish Superliga has seen them drop only seven points and take a 26-point lead at the top.

The challenge posed by Belgium's champions – Anderlecht lead that table – was revealed when Liverpool only narrowly squeezed past Standard Liege into the Champions League group stage in 2008, while Everton crashed straight out to Villareal at the same stage three years before that.

full article at
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 75066.html

[BlueinBosnia]

We will play the champions of a non top 12 european country such as Copenhagen

from the article in the independant

Mancini will not need to impress on his players the value of avoiding the Champions League qualifying round. The draw for that would pitch the continent's "non champions" contingent, including City, against the champions of those countries outside Europe's top 12. At worst, that could mean a two-leg encounter in August with FC Copenhagen, whose extraordinary campaign in the Danish Superliga has seen them drop only seven points and take a 26-point lead at the top.

The challenge posed by Belgium's champions – Anderlecht lead that table – was revealed when Liverpool only narrowly squeezed past Standard Liege into the Champions League group stage in 2008, while Everton crashed straight out to Villareal at the same stage three years before that.

full article at
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 75066.html

That's just not true. There are 5 places for 'other nation' champions, and 5 for top 15 nations' non-champions. We're in the non-champions draw. Look at UEFA's website or Wikipedia for clarification of the qualifying process.

[psut1]

I can only see details for this season on uefa's website next season there are many changes

[BlueinBosnia]

I can only see details for this season on uefa's website next season there are many changes

I'm pretty sure the (yet more) changes are implemented the season after, ie 2012-13, aren't they?

[halnone]

Hopefully Mancini is aiming for 3rd. I would much rather not have to go through a qualifying round.