Despite Real Madrid kicking the season off in style on Wednesday, Joe Cole isn’t sold on their title credentials in Europe.
Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich all have a better chance of winning the Champions League than Real Madrid this season.
That’s the opinion of Joe Cole. The former Chelsea star is certain these four clubs are in front of Real Madrid. That’s despite the Spanish side’s European success in the previous campaign, where they defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final in May for a record-extending 14th title.
Aside from besting Liverpool, Los Blancos also knocked out PSG and City in the knockout stages.
"We say it every season and it hasn't happened yet. Why is it different this season for Man City?" 🤔@JoleonLescott, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves have one simple answer. Erling Haaland 🤖
Is he the man to deliver #UCL glory to the Etihad? pic.twitter.com/F5L2fdEPE0
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 10, 2022
What was said?
In a debate with Owen Hargreaves and Joleon Lescott, Cole agreed with his fellow pundits that City can win the competition. But he went one step further by downgrading Real Madrid’s prospects.
“I still think PSG, City, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich above them,” the retired midfielder said on BT Sport before the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
“I still think there are four teams more capable of winning next year’s Champions League.
“They won the Champions League and you have to give them massive credit, they’re absolutely world-class players with a world-class manager. But think about all the stars that had to align for them to do that.
“The game against Chelsea, the game against Man City, even the final… [Thibaut] Courtois had to have the game of his career. Can they do that again?”
Real Madrid did win the UEFA Super Cup though on the same day of Cole’s remarks, besting Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in Helsinki.
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