Ancelotti Pronounces Man City As Champions League Favourites
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has pronounced Manchester City as favourites for this season's UEFA Champions League.
Pep Guardiola's side won Europe's premier club competition for the first time last season, beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
Although the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez have since left the Etihad Stadium, the core of Manchester City's treble-winning side remain while they have reinforced with the additions of highly-rated Croatia defender, Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic.
“City are favourites because they have a squad that saw them win it last season and they haven’t changed much,” Ancelotti told a press conference.
“However, in the Champions League, like always, there are surprises at the end.
“Real Madrid are a team that are going to fight until the end. We never think of ourselves as favourites, just as I think City don’t.
“But they won it last year, they can win the Champions League. You could say they are the favourites.”
Real Madrid will begin their European campaign with a home game against debutants Union Berlin on Wednesday while Manchester City host Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday.
