ARSENE WENGER believes Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are best placed to take advantage of a weaker Champions League.
The Frenchman believes the competition has declined in quality lately with PSG among his favourites despite also, as he sees it, declining as a team.
Arsene Wenger believes PSG and City are best placed to duel over a maiden Champions League crownCredit: Getty Images – Getty
With Real Madrid still to be seen off in the last-16, Pep Guardiola’s City are 3/1 joint-favourites with Bayern Munich to win the crown.
And Les Parisiens, back at 5/1 with Ladbrokes, are also fancied by the 70-year-old Arsenal legend.
Wenger is quoted by Metro as telling Europe 1: “When you are playing a match against Atalanta or Atletico Madrid, anything can happen.
“But for me, Manchester City and PSG are the two favourites in terms of their potential.
“Aside from that, honestly, PSG, I feel they are a little bit less strong than three or four years ago.
“In terms of their holistic setup, PSG were maybe a bit more complete three to four years ago, in all positions.
“The competition was stronger as well.
“But I think that there has been a general decline in the quality of European football at the very, very, very highest level and they are still amongst the two or three best in Europe.”
Only four of this year’s quarter-finalists have been confirmed after the coronavirus pandemic struck midway through the last-16 stage.
Manchester City lead Real Madrid 2-1 ahead of Saturday’s second leg at the EtihadCredit: PA:Press Association
City and Bayern lead Real Madrid and Chelsea, respectively, before their home legs at the end of this week.
A victory for the Premier League runners-up would set up a tie with Juventus or Lyon, with the winner then likely facing either Bayern, Barcelona or Napoli.
Arguably on the easier side of the draw, PSG are booked to meet Atalanta on August 12 in Lisbon before the winner plays Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig for a place in the final.
BT Sport announce Club 2020 covering every Champions League and Europa League game including free to view finals
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
