Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo's absence explained from Man United's Europa League squad

Erik ten Hag has finalized his squad for the upcoming tournament, aiming to create a well-balanced team capable of competing in various competitions throughout the season.

Victory in the FA Cup final in the final game of last season secured a European qualification spot for United and effectively saved ten Hag's job at Old Trafford.

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Ten Hag has bolstered his squad with a host of summer signings, including Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte, all of whom are included in the Europa League squad.

The decision to omit Garnacho and Mainoo will come as a surprise to United fans but a UEFA rule means they remain eligible for the competition.

Can Garnacho and Mainoo play in the Europa League?

The short answer to this is, yes they can.

This is based on UEFA rules surrounding which players do not have to be included on the 'A' list as club-trained players born after January 1, 2003 and do not need to be included in the main group.

Our 25-man squad for the 2024/25 #UEL has been confirmed.#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 5, 2024

Clubs do not need to confirm 'B' lists until closer to each game but the club have already added Garnacho, Mainoo and Tom Collyer to that list.

MORE: Man United's Europa League schedule for the 2024/25 'league phase'

What is a UEFA 'A' list?

UEFA rules state an 'A' list for a European club competition must not exceed 25 players with eight of those 25 spots reserved  for 'locally trained players' and no club may have more than four 'association-trained players' listed among those eight places.

Locally-trained player is classified as:

Club-trained players who were on a club's books for three entire seasons or 36 months between the ages of 15 and 21.Association-trained players who were on another club's books in the same association for three entire seasons or 36 months between the ages of 15 and 21.

If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players in their squad, the maximum number of players on List A is reduced accordingly.

A player may be registered on List B if he is born on, or after, January 1 2003 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for an uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday, or for a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan period to a club from the same association for a period not longer than one year. 

Players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years. 

Clubs are entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season, but the list needs to be submitted no later than 00:00 CET the day before a match.