Rio Ferdinand, a prominent football pundit, posits that Manchester City stands as the preeminent contenders for victory in the Champions League, though the potential exists for their momentum to be halted. Following their decisive 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium (6-2 on aggregate), City secured advancement to the quarter-final stage of the UCL. Goals scored by Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez, and Erling Haaland in the first half solidified their berth in the final eight. The remaining slots in the quarter-finals will be filled by teams such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, and the winners of ongoing last 16 fixtures, including notable clubs such as Arsenal, Barcelona, and Inter Milan.
Despite the competitive field, Manchester City maintains their status as favorites to retain the championship title, with Ferdinand expressing confidence in their ability to secure a place in the final slated for June 1st at Wembley Stadium. However, Ferdinand acknowledges a slim possibility of City being dethroned in the final, contingent upon their opponents possessing exceptional talent and performance, colloquially referred to as ‘stardust’.
‘I just don’t see anybody beating them over two legs. Then it depends on who gets in the final,’ the Manchester United legend told TNT Sports post-match.