Manchester City has been in subliminal form recently and have been breaking records left and right this season. The Sky Blues are at the helm of the English Premier League and show no signs of dropping points as the league progresses. It comes as no shock that City skipper Vincent Kompany believes this may be the year that they break the deadlock and add the first ever Champions League title to their name.
Why are Manchester City the favorites?
Pep Guardiola's men are at the top of their game and continued their phenomenal performance yesterday when they beat Fc Basel 4-0 in the first leg of their round of 16 match against the Swiss club.
However, City has made it to the round of 16 stages only six times in the history of the competition, raising questions of whether their quality of football is on par with that of the other European clubs.
The Citizens have emerged as a formidable force under Pep Guardiola and broke the record for most consecutive wins in the Premier League with 22-straight wins to their name, which was brought to a halt by Liverpool in December. With Ilkay Gundogan back after a knee injury and Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Brunye in their prime, City continued to blitz past their opponents, with their recent victims being Leicester City and FC Basel. Vincent Kompany believes that such spirit and form is just what the club needs to lift the Champions League title apart from the experience they have gained in their six stints in the competition.
Is this team the club’s GOAT?
Not long ago, Sergio Aguero struck late in stoppage time to win the first ever title for the Citizens in 44 years, loosening Manchester United’s hold on the league for the first time in ages. The Sky Blues then managed to reach their first semi-final in the Champions League. What sets this team apart from their predecessors is their counter-attacking style that has taken down many formidable foes.
The challenges ahead for the team
Although City handed out a crushing 4-0 defeat to FC Basel they still have a long way to go before getting their hands on the Champions League trophy. They would have to go through the likes of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, and their English counterparts Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. With City's intent, spirit, skills, and Pep Guardiola's guidance, it looks more likely than ever that the Sky Blues could end up as the champions of Europe.
