What do Manchester United need to do to qualify for the Champions League?

Louis van Gaal's side would need to claim an unprecedented win to snatch Champions League football

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (Getty)

Following a dramatic 'final' day of the Premier League season, Manchester City all but secured qualification for next season's Champions League with a 1-1 draw at Swansea City.

'All but', but not 'mathematically'. In an extraordinary turn of events, Manchester United, their main competition for a place in European football's elite club competition, saw their game against Bournemouth abandoned after a suspect package was found at Old Trafford.

The fixture will now be rescheduled and played at a later date, extending the end of the season and meaning that City cannot yet fully confirm Champions League qualification.

What do Manchester United need to do to qualify for the Champions League?

Manuel Pellegrini's side finished with a total of 66 points. United, following the postponement of their fixture, sit three points behind, with a vastly inferior goal difference.

Quite simply, if Manchester United have to beat Bournemouth 19-0 when the match is replayed, they will qualify for next season's Champions League.

Or in other words, Manchester City have 'all but' qualified for next season's Champions League.

The record for a Premier League win is Manchester United's own 9-0 victory over Ipswich Town in March 1995, which would need to be doubled and then some by this side.

As if precedent did not make it unlikely enough, Louis van Gaal's men have scored just 46 league goals this season - which was the same amount as 17th-placed Sunderland afte 37 games.

What about the Europa League?

Manchester United have, at least, now qualified for the 2016/17 Europa League group stage following the 'final' day's results.

West Ham, who went down to a 2-1 defeat at the Britannia, can finish no higher than 7th, meaning that fifth-placed Southampton and sixth-placed United are assured of a place in the competition.

The Hammers last hope of Europa League qualification is that United beat Crystal Palace in next weekend's FA Cup final.