The UEFA Champions League 2022/23 finale is just around the corner. The second-time finalist Manchester City faces the 3-time UCL winners Inter Milan. The Citizens are in brilliant form currently and are on course for a treble-winning season where they have already bagged the PL & FA Cup titles. Since the start of 2023, Manchester City have played 35 games, losing only 3 while drawing five.
They are unbeaten in this year’s UCL while brushing aside the likes of Bayern Munich & Real Madrid in emphatic fashions. They have scored the most goals 31 & conceded the least goals as well with only five.
Erling Halaand has taken his debut season with Manchester City by storm as he reaches record-breaking goal-scoring heights. And with the other players of City performing at such high levels, they are the team to beat currently in the world.
Let’s have a look at the five reasons why Manchester City are favorites to win UCL this year::
1. A 2nd Lucky Chance at UCL
We are currently in the 67th edition of Europe’s most prestigious football competition & it has seen over 22 different winners. But this competition hasn’t been kind to the first-time participants, take Manchester City for example. They have already tasted defeat in their debut UCL Final at the hands of Chelsea. Let’s look at the teams that failed to win UCL in their debut final only to break the curse later on:
- FC Barcelona against Benfica in 1961
- Chelsea against Manchester United in 2008
- PSG against Bayern Munich in 2020
- Tottenham Hotspurs against Liverpool 2019
- Manchester City against Chelsea in 2021
- AC Milan against Real Madrid in 1958
- Juventus against Ajax in 1973
2. Erling Halaand – The goal-scoring monster
The Norwegian goal-scoring monster has scored an outrageous 52 goals this season, with record-breaking 36 goals in his debut PL season. He’d be eager to add to his tally when he faces off against the Italian defense this Sunday in the UCL Final. He is already the top scorer in this season’s UCL with 12 goals & nobody in his sights to overtake him.
Halaand will surely be one of the biggest tests for Inzaghi’s defense when they face off.
Also Read: UECL Final: Fiorentina and West Ham within touching distance of claiming a rare piece of silverware
3. Pep The Genius
Year after year the tactical genius, Pep Guardiola has proven himself to be one of the greatest coaches of all time. With the FA Cup victory, he won his 34th trophy in just the 15th year of his managerial career. A trophy percentage of 2.26 per season, that’s astonishing. The record of Sir Alex Ferguson with the most trophies won (50) as a coach is insights now.
He overcame the toughest of games in the Quarterfinals against German champions Bayern Munich (4-1) & then against the current European champions Real Madrid (4-1). Both Bayern & Madrid were outclassed at Etihad by the bald Spanish genius.
Cometh this Sunday we can expect another European final masterclass from him.
4. Midfield Trio – KDB, Gundogan & Rodri
The Blues midfield trio has been in sensational form this season. The ever-consistent Kevin De Bruyne who has the most assists in UCL (6l), has been given ample support by Ilkay Gundogan who has been very clutch this season with his performances in high-octane games. And then the rise of Rodri as a defensive midfielder. He is currently one of the best if not the best in the world right now.
It’s like a FIFA game midfield trio and Manchester City will be hoping for them to deliver on the biggest stage. This makes City the favorites to win UCL this year if these three are on song tonight.
5. Treble Motivation
An accolade only a few teams can boost all over the world. Only Manchester United (1999), FC Barcelona (2009 & 2015), Inter Milan (2010) & Bayern Munich (2020) have won the treble.
Manchester City has already bagged the PL & FA Cup titles and is within touching distance of becoming only the 2nd English side to win the treble. This achievement would cement their name as one of the greatest ever football teams ever to play.
We are in for an exciting night tonight. With these five reasons, we think Manchester City are favorites to win UCL this year, the first of many.
