UEFA subsequently ruled that the defending champions qualify for the competition the following year regardless of their domestic league placing. However, for those leagues with four entrants in the Champions League, this meant that if the Champions League winner finished outside the top four in its domestic league, it would qualify at the expense of the fourth-placed team in the league.
Do defending champtions get to play in the following year's Champions League if they don't have enough wins to qualify
UEFA subsequently ruled that the defending champions qualify for the competition the following year regardless of their domestic league placing.