City or Bayern tipped to replace Liverpool as the kings of Europe

JURGEN KLOPP says that Manchester City and Bayern Munich will battle it out for European supremacy this summer in Portugal when the Champions League resumes and that they are the teams most likely to succeed Liverpool as European champions.

Bayern have been in supreme form in the Bundesliga since the return from lockdown with nine straight wins and City excelled as they thrashed Liverpool 4-0 on Thursday night.

City still have to play the second leg of their last-16 game against Real Madrid, in which they lead 2-1, while Bayern have a 3-0 lead halfway through their tie with Chelsea.

Klopp said: ‘I think for me the two big favourites left in the competition are Bayern and Manchester City. That would be an interesting game. Bayern played an impressive season in Germany after Hansi Flick took over [as coach from Niko Kovac]. It was really impressive what they did and these two are the favourites.

‘I don’t know exactly how it could happen, if they meet in the semi-final or final or whatever but the competition [in August] will be really interesting. ‘It will be really new. But when you see Manchester City, the squad there, yes [they have a] massive, massive chance.

‘But even in the game against us on Thursday night, which City won deservedly, we should have scored three goals. Don’t forget that. ‘They have so much quality but no team in the world is perfect. City is not, Bayern is not, we are not. But you need to be nearly perfect in precise moments to win the Champions League. Everybody needs luck and if you want to win the Champions League you should have your best line-up ready for the final if possible, but I really think these two teams are the two favourites.

‘I will watch the tournament. It will be really interesting but unfortunately we have nothing, really, to do with it this year.’

The Champions League will take place in Portugal next month. The quarter finals onwards will be one-off games in Lisbon culminating in a final on August 23.

It is yet to be decided where the remaining last-16 ties, which include City against Real Madrid, Bayern against Chelsea, Juventus against Lyon and Barcelona versus Napoli, will be played.

City, Barcelona and Juventus are insisting they should have home advantage as normal, even though it will be behind closed doors, though UEFA are considering playing the games at neutral venues in Portugal.