Sergio Aguero names his three ‘favourites’ to win the Champions League

Sergio Aguero has named Manchester City, Barcelona and Arsenal arsenic his 3 favourites to triumph the Champions League.

The new Champions League format is opening to instrumentality signifier with each 36 teams successful the contention playing 3 games.

The English clubs person enjoyed a sensational start, with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Man City presently occupying the top-three spots.

Arsenal are ninth but level connected points with third-placed Manchester City, with holders Real Madrid lone 12th and their metropolis rivals Atletico down successful 27th.

In this caller Champions League format, the apical 12 teams volition automatically advancement to the knockout stages, with the adjacent 12 clubs moving into a play-off. The bottommost 12 volition beryllium eliminated.

‘This is simply a caller Champions League format, I deliberation this twelvemonth volition beryllium afloat of surprises,’ legendary striker Aguero told Stake.

‘This format could assistance smaller teams to thrive and suffice to the adjacent round. This mightiness besides complicate things for bigger clubs to qualify.

‘I’ve ever felt that the favourite to triumph the tourney is Manchester City, and past Real Madrid, but I besides spot a precise beardown Arsenal team.

‘However, I bash anticipation some Man City and Barca tin conquer this edition. Even though I’ve seen City conflict successful immoderate Premier matches this season, it is the aforesaid nine we know, controlling the games from commencement to finish.

‘But to archer you my prediction, I consciousness that this year’s Final volition person 2 teams that nary 1 is expecting.’

The different large nine cupful contention taking spot crossed Europe is of people the Europa League, featuring the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

Mourinho named his 2 favourites to triumph the competition up of Fenerbahce’s clash with Man United connected Thursday night, which finished 1-1.

‘At the extremity of the day, this caller format volition ever let that the apical teams are going to qualify,’ helium said.

‘No occupation for a apical squad to suffer 3 oregon 4 matches retired of 8 due to the fact that past they volition triumph 3 oregon four, they volition marque 12 points easy and they qualify, truthful I deliberation they are successful a unchangeable situation.

‘If I person to accidental present which are the 2 biggest candidates to triumph the Europa League, I deliberation it’s casual – Man United and Tottenham.

‘The Premier League is simply a antithetic level of quality, it’s a antithetic level of intensity, it’s a antithetic level of pace, it’s a antithetic level of tactical culture, it’s a antithetic level of everything.

‘I deliberation time we are going to play against 1 of the 2 strongest teams.’

For much stories similar this, check our athletics page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest quality connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE : Gary Neville tells Arsenal fans to halt making ‘excuses’ and makes prediction for Liverpool clash

MORE : Manchester United manager charged by FA aft rant astatine officials successful Old Trafford tunnel

MORE : Mikel Arteta names 2 Arsenal teenagers ‘in contention’ to play against Liverpool

This tract is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.