The Champions League continues on Wednesday night and
we'll bring you Bayern Munich v Man City live on Sky Sports 5 and Chelsea v
Schalke live on Sky Sports 1. Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness says he
expects Chelsea to win, while City could shock his tip for the title,
Bayern...
Bayern
Munich v Man City, 6pm, Wednesday, Sky Sports 5
Are Manchester City more concerned with the Champions League than the
Premier League this year? I don’t think so.
Manuel Pellegrini would take either of those trophies right now and you
can’t cherry-pick and say you would focus on the European Cup over the
league or vice versa. These are big clubs that carry big squads and their
supporters expect them to make an impression in both competitions.
There’s not a great deal of difference between the first choice and second
choice players in lots of positions, so that will mean they will be stronger
in the domestic competition. I don’t see that issue as a real handicap to
them.
However, I don’t know why they have failed to get beyond the last 16 in
Europe because they certainly have the players to do better. It’s a mystery
to me – and it will be to the coach as well.
I would expect Manchester City to finish second in their group, behind
Bayern Munich, but I can still see them making the semi-finals if the draw
is kind to them. Roma are also in the group, but I think Italian football is
nowhere near as strong as it used to be and I think City will finish second
– although I wouldn’t rule out them winning it.
Manchester City went to Munich last season and got a result and so they can
go there with some confidence. I don’t rule anything out.
But with Robert Lewandowski now in their ranks, you would have to say that
Bayern Munich are stronger this year. Toni Kroos is a loss to them and they
need Bastian Schweinsteiger to stay fit.
But there’s no doubt about it, even if you take Kroos out of a squad,
putting Lewandowski into it makes them stronger. Of all the strikers that
changed clubs, he was the man to get this summer.
I think Bayern can go on and win the Champions League again. You can give
them the Bundesliga now, but Pep Guardiola has to get them to the final in
Berlin next year.
I would fancy Bayern Munich to win on Wednesday night, but would I be
surprised if Manchester City got a result? No I wouldn’t.
Chelsea
v Schalke, 7.30pm, Wednesday, Sky Sports 1
People ask me if Jose Mourinho has changed his style this season and I would
say no.
If Chelsea draw Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich then he won’t be
frightened to go there and have a plan B – and he has a better plan B than
anyone else.
He’s not worried about what people say afterwards if he goes away from home
and produces a dull, drab 0-0 draw. He’s not concerned and it doesn’t bother
him.
They have conceded five goals in their last two league games, but put it
this way, I still think it will be either Chelsea or Manchester City that
has the best defensive record come the end of the season.
Chelsea will win what looks like a very easy group and the beauty for Jose
Mourinho is that he won’t always have to field his strongest team in Europe.
In the later stages of the group he will have the luxury of being able to
leave out some of his players, which means he can have one eye on the
Premier League. That is an enormous advantage.
I don’t think he would consider leaving out Diego Costa for the Schalke game
because they are the main rivals to finish first in the group and Chelsea
will want to damage them, especially at home. As long as Costa is not
carrying any sort of injury, I don’t see being rested.
Chelsea will win this game. I wouldn’t say it will be comfortable, but they
will win this game and their group.
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