My Champions League thoughts, part 2:2

My Champions League thoughts, part 2:2

In this part I will list some of the favourites and write about why I don’t they will win the champions league this year.

Fc Barcelona @ 5.00

Barcelona won this tournament last year and that’s one of the reasons that I don’t think they can win again. Manchester United had the chance to be the first team to win Champions league two times in a row since it started 1992 / 1993 (note that I am writing about Champions league in that format that is played today, and not the former European cup).

But Barcelona beat them in the finals, so no team have doubled champions league wins in a row yet. And I think it will be hard for Barcelona to win this year as well even though they might have one of the best teams in Europe.

They haven’t lost any key players before this season and have bought Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan. But I don’t think that will be enough to go all the way again. They where a bit lucky last year, when they beat Chelsea in the semi finals, and statistically I don’t think they can do the same again even thought they have a solid squad and play well.

Manchester United @ 9.00

Manchester United is, just like Barcelona, always one of the favourites to win Champions League. Not as big favourite as last year but still pretty big once. They pay 7.00 in odds if they win Champions League and that’s to low according to me.

After 3 – 4 matches in Premier League I still wonder how Man United how will they handle the loss of their best player – Christiano Ronaldo.

C Ronaldo is not only a great football player but he has also scored lots of goals for the red devils. And often when he didn’t scored goals he was an important component who often takes the free kicks, corners and so on witch results in goals.

United lost a player who totally scores about 35-40 goals each season and with his skills that he had it will be hard to replace. Besides Ronaldo they even lost a fighter in their offence in Carlos Tevez who went for the local rivals Manchester City. Even Tevez will be hard to replace with his fighting spirit and always hard working on the pitch.

Even though Sir Alex has a complete and solid team and has bought some players that will try to replace Tevez and Ronaldo, I find it hard that they can go all the way again. Actually I find it hart too se that they even can reach the final this year.

I would never play Manchester United as winner of Premier League coming season for 7.00 as payback.

Arsenal @ 9.00

Fc Arsenal has started their premier league season better then my expectations. And that might be a fact that they won’t win Champions League. Wenger and his Arsenal haven’t won any trophy in many years now and the fans are screaming for a new one.

I have to admit that I didn’t believe in Arsenal before this season started but now I at least give them a chance to fight for the title.

 They still have a young team and my feelings are that if they still are in the top of the league, their chances to win champions will reduce.

Liverpool @ 13.00

Has started the league worse then expected and Rafa Benitez have claimed that the league is more and more important for every year that goes by. Last year Liverpool was second in premier league and even though they “always” go better in European cups then home in premier League I don’t believe they have a team that can go all the way.

Inter Milan @ 13.00, Ac Milan @ 21.00 and Juventus @ 21.00

I choose to put the text for all the Italian clubs under the same headline.

My reason to do that is that I think none of the teams will go far. While Premier League have gone better and better trough out the last couples of years Serie A have went the other way. Last year three English teams met three Italian team in the knock-out round and every game was won by the English teams.

Notable is that Ac Milan, always strong in European cups, didn’t play Champions League last year after have finished fifth in the league the year before. Now they are back in the best club tournament in Europe but without their best player, Kaka.

Without players like Zlatan Ibrahmovic, Kaka and so on I don’t think any of the Italian teams can compete with the best clubs in Europe. The only team that I might bet on later in the tournament, depending on how they start, is Ac Milan.

All the odds that I compare with are picked from Bwin.com soccer.

Best regards

/Amrish