DBasia.news – Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester City and Bayern Munich are favorites to win this season’s Champions League – and he is thrilled to see the two face each other.
Liverpool led by Klopp were the winners of the prestigious competition last season, but Atletico Madrid were eliminated from the top 16 before the world went into lockdown due to the corona virus pandemic in March.
Now the tournament will resume next month, with the remaining 16 major rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals all will be played within 16 days.
Bayern are in pole position to secure a place in the quarter-finals after winning 3-0 at Chelsea headquarters in February, while City holds a 2-1 advantage following their first leg win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“For me, the two big favorites left in this competition are Bayern and Man City. That will be an interesting match! I don’t know exactly if that can happen, whether they will meet in the semi-finals or whatever,” Klopp told reporters.
“Bayern clearly played an impressive season in Germany, before and after lockdown. After Hansi Flick took over, it was truly impressive what they did. They are both definitely favorites. “
“This competition will be very interesting, because this is really new. But when you look at Man City, you see the troops they have.
“Everyone needs luck, but as I always say, if you want to win the Champions League, you have to prepare your best line-up for the finals.
“It’s not that the other teams don’t have chances, but I really think that these two teams are favorites.”
Klopp added: “But even in the match [against Liverpool] on Thursday, which City deserved, we should have scored three goals. Don’t forget that. We should and surely will have it on a normal day.
“They have an abundant quality, but no team in the world is perfect. Not City, not Bayern and not us, but you have to be at almost perfect points to win the Champions League.
“I will watch it, the [Champions League] mini tournament. It will be interesting, but unfortunately we are not taking part again this year. “