Panic for Messi and Teammates As PSG Boss Mauricio Pochettino Names the ‘Team to Beat’ in the Champions League

Panic for Messi and Teammates As PSG Boss Mauricio Pochettino Names the ‘Team to Beat’ in the Champions League

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:46 PM
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  • Mauricio Pochettino has stated that English club Chelsea are a team to beat in this season’s Champions League
  • Poch has bolstered his squad having signed fellow countryman Lionel Messi, but the manager is wary of defending champions Chelsea
  • According to the tactician, although PSG also looks good on paper, holders Chelsea are even stronger having strengthened their squad

The manager of French club Paris Saint-Germain, Mauricio Pochettino, has stated that Premier League club Chelsea are the team to beat in the Champions League this season, SPORTbible reports.

Poch admitted that the Blues are the reigning champions of the elite competition and they remain favourites to retaining the title due to the strengthening of the squad.

Following the arrival of Lionel Messi to PSG, football pundits and fans have tipped PSG for glory, but Pochettino maintained that the Blues cannot be discounted.

Panic for Messi and Teammates As Psg Boss Mauricio Pochettino Names the ‘Team to Beat’ in the Champions League
Mauricio Pochettino wary of Chelsea in Champions League. Photo: Matthias Balk
Source: Getty Images

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss said via Mirror:

"It's possible that Chelsea and ourselves are the two teams to beat on paper, looking at our squads. But Chelsea are the holders so they're the team to beat especially after strengthening their squad.
“The pressure is there for all the clubs and we know that for a number of years the Champions League is PSG's main objective."

PSG begin their quest for European glory on Wednesday, September 15 when they take on Belgian side Club Brugge away at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

Following their loss in last year’s final to German side Bayern Munich, the Argentine boss believes his side can go one step further and then win the title.

Supercomputer predicts Manchester City to win Champions League

Meanwhile, a supercomputer has backed Man City to emerge Champions League winners this season ahead of top European giants.

Despite their otherwise impressive success in recent years, City have never tasted European glory.

The Etihad dwellers came close to lifting the title last season, only to suffer a heartbreaking defeat in the final against rivals Chelsea.

Pique claims Barcelona not good enough for Champions League title

Legit.ng earlier reported that Gerard Pique seems to have thrown in the towel after claiming Barcelona are not one of the favourites to win this season's Champions League.

La Blaugrana suffered a damaging defeat to German champions Bayern Munich in their first outing of the season.

The Bavarians scored three unreplied goals through Thomas Muller and a brace from Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.

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Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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