According to reports, Manchester United and Tottenham “absolutely” do not deserve to be in next season’s Champions League. This is the claim of Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit, who insists it would be “unfair” if either team wins the Europa League this month.

Manchester United and Tottenham are the two main contenders to reach the final on May 21 at San Mamés Stadium, having dominated their respective semi-final first legs against Athletic Bilbao and Bodø/Glimt.

The Red Devils crushed Ernesto Valverde’s Bilbao 3-0 in Spain, dealing a heavy blow to their hopes of reaching the final, which will be held at their home stadium.

Tottenham also defeated Bodø/Glimt 3-1 in London and now only need to survive the Norwegian team’s artificial pitch, which has claimed big victims this season.

Emmanuel Petit believes these two English teams have a great chance to salvage their “disastrous” season. Manchester United are on course for their worst-ever Premier League finish, currently sitting in 15th place, with Tottenham below them.

However, if either team wins the Europa League, they will secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.

But Petit firmly states that neither team deserves to be among Europe’s elite after this catastrophic season. Nevertheless, he wished both teams success ahead of their crucial second-leg matches.

Petit said in his recent interview:“Tottenham and Manchester United both have the opportunity to salvage their disastrous season by winning the Europa League, but do either of them really deserve to be in next season’s Champions League? Absolutely not. Neither of these teams deserves to be among the Champions League teams. I wish Manchester United success against Bilbao, but looking at the game against Lyon [in the quarter-final second leg], Lyon should have finished United off there. Tottenham might pull off a surprise, but I have no expectations from Tottenham or Manchester United this season. To be honest, it would be unfair if either of these teams wins the Europa League.”