To think that in theory a team could be relegated and at the same time qualify for the CL via this route meaning that a championship team would be playing CL football. Now to take a stage further if that team won the CL and were relegated again in THEORY a league one team could also be in the CL. Completely daft of course, it’s never actually going to happen……
The closest we’ve got is when Wigan were relegated & won the FA Cup so they played in the UEFA Cup whilst in the championship
Which just goes back to the argument why Champions League places should only be available for Champions and why we ought to have a competition for cup winners. Champions League - Champions only. Play each other twice in the current league format and there wouldn’t be any less games. Cup Winners Cup - Team that wins FA and League Cup or Runners up if the champions win it. Europa League 4 teams from the next highest places in the league that haven’t won a cup.
This has been a rule since they re-vamped the Uefa cup into the Europa league. The whole reason Uefa put this rule in is because people were clamouring for it and believed it would add more intensity to the competition. The moaning has only come this season because it United and Spurs and they're often referred to a s 2 of the big 6. I remember Wigan and Birmingham winning cups and then getting relegated and playing in Europe whist in the championship, nobody batted an eye-lid. Me personally, I think it would be great if Palace win it next season and qualify for the champions league. It gives smaller clubs or clubs who aren't having great seasons another route into the CL. Its only because its Tottenham and Man United that people don't like it.