Manchester United have hit a record low in the Euro Club Index rankings

Manchester United are officially worse than Benfica.

While there’s no shame in being inferior to the Portuguese champions, United fans won’t be happy at the fact that their club has reached a record low in the Euro club index ranking table.

The ranking system, which began in 2007, is a means by which all European clubs are given a score based on their performances against teams that are deemed more or less likely to beat them.

It started in the summer of 2007 when each European side was given a ranking based on their domestic and European performances in the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

Since then, teams have essentially been awarded more points when they beat opponents who they’ve been given a lower chance to overcome – i.e. Manchester City will receive more points for beating Arsenal than they would if they beat Bournemouth.

And Manchester United have fallen to a record low on the table after failing to claim victory over sides who they’d typically be expected to, with their 3-3 draw with Newcastle coming after defeats to Norwich, Bournemouth and Stoke in the first half of the season.

United now find themselves in 15th place, 335 points behind local rivals Manchester City who are the top-ranked Premier League side.

West Ham are the biggest climbers as they jump up to 64th after claiming the scalps of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.