STEVE McMANAMAN

make that final step – the biggest step. They have got to move from Premier League winners to Champions League winners.”

Madrid have won three successive European titles, but have lost Cristiano Ronaldo (above, right) to a Juventus team that has made lifting the Champions League a priority after winning the Italian title for the last seven seasons.

Paris SaintGermain have star names, such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, while Bayern Munich always seems to feature in the latter stages.

But McManaman feels that the only threat to a first English triumph since Chelsea lifted the trophy in 2012 will come from a Barcelona side that has been active in the transfer market to get the best out of Lionel Messi (above, left) and Luis Suarez.

McManaman said: “Real Madrid and Bayern Munich look a bit jaded to me.

“Juventus have got Ronaldo – which will obviously help their cause – and they have brought Leonardo Bonucci back to add his experience.

“PSG have got the superstars, but can they get over the line? They fluffed a great chance against Barcelona a couple of years ago.

“And last season they were expected to go through against a Madrid side that was low on confidence and lost again. PSG seem to have a mental frailty that makes me wonder whether they will ever go all the way.

“For me, the only top European side who have invested well is Barcelona. I see Barca as the only team from the continent to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool. I really do think this could be the start of a cycle when English teams take over from the Spanish clubs in terms of dominating Europe.

“English clubs haven’t had that fear factor for five or six years – but they do now.

“Man United and Tottenham also have squads good enough to go deep in the competition.

“But City and Liverpool have greater quality and depth and, if they can stay away from each other in the draw, we might get the final everyone wants.”