BAYERN MUNICH are the biggest threat to a Premier League side winning this year’s Champions League, according to Rio Ferdinand.
The former Manchester United defender believes only the reigning champs or Paris Saint-Germain can stop an English side claiming the crown.
Rio Ferdinand has cast his predictions for the Champions League knockoutsCredit: PA:Press Association
Defending champions Bayern Munich are tipped to go all the wayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all booked their place in Monday’s last-16 draw with ease.
And Jurgen Klopp’s side are just behind Bayern in Ferdinand’s prediction for the competition.
He said on BT Sport: “I put Bayern Munich favourites, but I would have Liverpool close second favourites.
“It is great to see big teams are in there, the English boys are in there bar Manchester United disappointingly.”
United’s exit led to the ‘devastated’ Ferdinand joking that he ‘hadn’t slept’ after the defeat to RB Leipzig.
The Germans could recreate their run to the semi-finals having beaten the Red Devils and PSG en route to the last-16.
When it restarts we will have to readdress our expectations for certain teams because form and injuries play a big part.
Rio Ferdinand
And it is Les Parisiens, last year’s beaten finalists, who the 42-year-old expects to challenge again.
He added: “I think the English teams will go deep in the tournament, I think they have got some real quality, Bayern and possibly PSG are the only threats.
“If [Bayern] don’t have injuries, I think they will go on and do it again.
“With the experience they have in that team and the explosiveness they have got in the wide areas.”
Monday lunchtime’s draw could see Barcelona drawn against one of the three remaining English teams.
Lazio, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Monchengladbach are also possibilities with teams from the same group kept apart at this stage.
Chelsea are a potential ‘dark horse’ in Ferdinand’s mind, if they can keep the injuries to a minimum by the knockouts in February.
He noted: “They are a team that are starting to gel together, you can see Frank has done good business up to now in the transfer market.
“Get through the Christmas period and New Year and see how the squad is shaping up injury wise and form wise.
“When the Champions League restarts again we will have to readdress our expectations for certain teams because form and injuries play a big part.”
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
Rio Ferdinand frustrated Man Utd didn’t sign Arsenal new boy Thomas Partey
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
