4 reasons why Manchester City will win the Champions League
- Man City won the Champions League last season
- They will face off against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals
- Why they should be considered the favourites to win the competition
Manchester City head into the final eight of the UEFA Champions League as heavy favourites to lift the trophy with the big ears.
And rightfully so.
Last season's treble-winners have showed no signs of slowing down, and are currently fighting on three fronts once again heading into the final weeks of the season.
Here's why Man City are favourites to win the Champions League in 2023/24.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland has scored 41 goals in 38 UEFA Champions League appearances - the best goals per game ratio out of any of the top 50 goalscorers in the competition's history.
The forward scored a rather ridiculous 12 goals in 11 games as Man City won the competition last season, and having netted six already during this campaign, he looks to be in similarly frightening form heading into the latter stages of the Champions League.
The two best midfielders in the world
When fit, Kevin De Bruyne is the best creative midfielder in the world.
When fit (he basically always is), Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world.
The pair have been utterly unplayable in recent seasons when on the pitch together, providing Pep Guardiola with unrivalled creativity and steel at the heart of his midfield.
Simply put, no other team in Europe has the same level of quality in the centre of the park.
Experience
Considering the money spent since Sheikh Mansour bought the club, it is rather astonishing that it took as long as it did for the Citizens to win the Champions League.
Having finally won it and got over the hump however, it seems that City now have the capacity to go on and dominate Europe's elite cup competition for a number of years. They have the manager, transfer kitty, and talent to do so.
Strength in depth
Here's Manchester City's bench for last weekend's clash with Crystal Palace in the Premier League:
Ederson, Jeremy Doku, Manuel Akanji, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Mahamadou Susoho, Phil Foden and Sergio Gomez.
Bar Susoho and Gomez (sorry guys), every single of those players probably starts for every other team in England.
That's strength in depth; the sort of strength in depth that's needed to win the Champions League.