Champions League: PSG among the favorites of Carlo Ancelotti

Paris winner of the Champions League? In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Carlo Ancelotti, former PSG coach (2011-2013) now stationed at Everton (Premier League), considers in any case the Parisian club as one of the favorites, alongside Manchester City.

According to him, "the most motivated clubs, those who ask the Cup to sublimate a season or a course" are able to go for the final victory in Lisbon (Portugal). "The PSG which has never played a semi-final ( Editor's note: under the QSI era ), or Manchester City," he says.

Carlo Ancelotti points out, however, "the unpredictability of Final 8", because the final phase will be played on "a single match. "There will actually be several finals, not just one," he decrypts. For the three-time winner of the Champions League as a coach ( Editor's note: two with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, one with Real Madrid in 2014 ), the keys to victory lie in "unconsciousness, luck and courage. "

Manchester City in a good position

To hope to win the European Grail, PSG will first have to win their quarter-final against Atalanta Bergamo on August 12. A draw that does not delight the French according to the Italian coach. PSG inherits a team recognized for its offensive power, and has injured in its ranks. The participation of Kylian Mbappé, who suffers from a sprained right ankle since the final of the Coupe de France against Saint-Etienne (1-0), remains uncertain. As for Layvin Kurzawa, injured in the hamstrings, he resumed individual work on Monday, after leaving the field in the League Cup final against Lyon last Friday (6-5 on penalties).

For its part, Atalanta does not know if it will be able to count on its titular goalkeeper, Pierluigi Gollini, released after a bad fall, eleven days before the shock.

The other favorite is therefore Manchester City for Carlo Ancelotti. The English club still have to play their second leg in the round of 16 against Real Madrid on Friday. Pep Guardiola's men are nevertheless in a good position to join the Final 8 in Lisbon after winning it 2-1 last February.