Cristiano Ronaldo has named his three favourites for this season’s Champions League, with only one of the two Premier League sides making the cut.
The Portugal captain and current Al-Nassr striker knows a thing or two about winning European club football’s most prestigious competition, having lifted the trophy five times throughout his career. Ronaldo’s first came in 2008, while still a Manchester United player, before he would go on to win it a further four times with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Ronaldo is also the competition’s record goalscorer, with a stunning 141 strikes to his name. He is unlikely to net another, given his move to the Middle East at the start of last year, but that doesn’t mean the 38-year-old can’t have his say on who the favourites are to go the distance this term.
Despite his United ties, when asked to name his favourites to win the Champions League this season, Ronaldo replied: ” Manchester City have a good chance to win the Champions League again. Favourites? Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern [Munich]…”.
Though Arsenal have been impressive upon their return to the competition so far, with 16 goals scored in the group stage as well as boasting one of the best defensive records having conceded just four, Ronaldo overlooked Mikel Arteta’s men and doesn’t expect them to win their first ever Champions League this season.
He did, however, continue to wax lyrical about his formal rivals in Pep Guardiola’s City. Ronaldo, while discussing their historic treble last term, added: “Manchester City did amazing.
“Congratulations on their season. Players, coach. Superb. Finally they win the Champions League, they probably deserved it two years ago. I enjoy seeing them play.”
Those of a United persuasion may feel a tad uneasy about a club legend speaking so glowingly about their local rivals, while it won’t do much to dispel the rumours that Ronaldo was actually Etihad bound in the summer of 2021 before the Red Devils swooped.
City are in a strong position to reach the latter stages of the Champions League once again and have been drawn against Danish outfit Copenhagen at the round of 16 stage. Guardiola’s men are overwhelming favourites to progress to the last eight.
Arsenal have an undeniably tougher draw against Portuguese giants Porto, but Mikel Arteta’s side are still expected to be too strong for their opponents. The Gunners will be hoping to spring a surprise and win the entire thing, given many, including Ronaldo, have written them off as potential champions.
