Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle secure Champions League spots as angry Villa misses out

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle secured the remaining Champions League places on a dramatic final day of the Premier League season.

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were the big losers on Sunday — missing out in the race for the top five.

Villa was left with a sense of injustice after having a goal ruled out against Manchester United just moments before going behind and eventually losing 2-0 at Old Trafford.

A draw would have been enough for Unai Emery's team on a day when Newcastle lost 1-0 at home to Everton.

Chelsea beat Forest 1-0 to secure a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.

City ended the season in third place with a 2-0 win against Fulham. Arsenal was second behind champion Liverpool.

Villa was down to 10 men before halftime when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund and coming under intense pressure from United. But the game looked like it had swung in the visitors' favor when Morgan Rogers seized on a fumble by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and fired the ball into the open net.

Celebrations were cut short because referee Thomas Bramall had blown his whistle before the goal was scored, which meant VAR could not overturn the decision.

Video replays were inconclusive as to whether Bayindir was in control of the ball, having initially let it slip from his grasp.

"The TV is clear ... but of course we have to accept it," Emery said. “It was a mistake. A big mistake.”

Villa's fury was compounded when Amad Diallo put United ahead in the 76th minute. Christian Eriksen added another from the penalty spot late on — prompting sarcastic applause from Emery, who also waited to confront the referee after the final whistle.

Villa, which was a Champions League quarterfinalist this year, qualified for the Europa League in sixth place.

Man United finished 15th in the 20-team league.

In a season in which Newcastle ended its decades long trophy-drought, it very nearly blew the Champions League at the death.

Having started the day in fourth, the English League Cup winner dropped out of the top five when Carlos Alcaraz struck for Everton in the second half at St James' Park.

But Newcastle ended the day and the season in fifth — ahead of Villa on goal difference — courtesy of the events at Old Trafford.

Two-time Champions League winner Chelsea is back among the elite of European soccer.

Levi Colwill's goal was enough to secure a win at Forest and fourth place in the standings.

Chelsea last won the Champions League in 2021, but has missed out on qualification in each of the past two seasons during a turbulent period under American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

But a return to European club soccer's top competition is a sign that things are moving in the right direction, while Enzo Maresca's team can still end the season with silverware in the Conference League final against Real Betis on Wednesday.

Forest finished the season in seventh and will play in the Conference League next season.

After ending the season empty-handed for the first time in eight years, City will at least be in the Champions League next term.

That was far from guaranteed for much of a season in which the four-time defending champion saw its title defense unravel before Christmas.

An early exit from the Champions League followed and City was beaten by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last weekend.

There is still the possibility of a trophy at the Club World Cup in the United States, starting in June, but City manager Pep Guardiola's priority in the closing weeks of the campaign was to secure a return to the Champions League.

“It’s like a title,” Guardiola said. “At the end we finished third, not miles away from Arsenal, but the distance to Liverpool is huge. We have to improve and hopefully we can do it.”

Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland were on target against Fulham at Craven Cottage to ensure the season ended on a winning note.

Liverpool title celebrations have been going on for a few weeks now, but the Premier League champion finally got its hands on the trophy in front of its own fans.

Virgil van Dijk held it aloft to roars from the Anfield crowd and an explosion of fireworks.

Crystal Palace came close to dampening those celebrations, but Mohamed Salah — who else? — struck in the 84th and the game finished 1-1.

Arsenal, runner-up for the third year in a row, beat last-placed Southampton 2-1 after Martin Odegaard's 89th-minute winner.

Tottenham followed up its Europa League triumph on Wednesday with a 22nd league defeat of the season to round off a dire domestic campaign.

Leading through Dominic Solanke's first-half penalty, Spurs conceded four goals after the break to lose 4-1 at home to Brighton.

Ange Postecoglou's team finished 17th — just one place above the relegation zone — but will play Champions League soccer next season by virtue of winning the Europa League.

Man United coach Ruben Amorim apologized to fans after what he described as a “disastrous” season.

United ended the campaign with a slew of unwanted records, including the club’s lowest Premier League finish and points total. The 20-time champion also fell to a club record number of losses in the modern era, but Amorim said the good times would be back.

“I want to apologize for this season. I know you are really disappointed with me and really disappointed with the team,” he said. “Today after this disastrous season I want to tell you the good days are coming.”

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe gestures before the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Everton at St. James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Chelsea's Levi Colwill, centre right, celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Sunday May 25, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Sunday May 25, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold holds the winner's trophy as he celebrates with teammates after the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Newcastle United's Joe Willock, right, and Everton's James Garner battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Everton at St. James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Manchester United's Mason Mount in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Sunday May 25, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester City players celebrate after Manchester City's Erling Haaland, centre, scored his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage, London, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)