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Champions League: can Man U, City, Arsenal or Chelsea win?
How will the English clubs get on in Europe's premier competition this season?
The Champions League got underway last night as Europe's biggest teams began their quest to be crowned kings of the continent.
Things did not start well for the English contingent however, as Manchester United lost 2-1 to PSV in Eindhoven and Manchester City succumbed 2-1 to last season's finalists, Juventus, at the Etihad.
Tonight it will be the turn of Chelsea and Arsenal, as the Gunners travel to Dynamo Zagreb and the Blues entertain Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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But what chance do the Premier League clubs have of winning the tournament? Here's what the pundits are predicting.
Manchester United
Having spent £300m to get United back into Europe's premier competition, Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal has admitted he has no idea if his team are good enough to compete for the Champions League title.
When asked how his team would perform he replied: "I don't know. We have to wait and see because the Champions League is a higher level than the Premier League."
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Others have been less shy. Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian believes "United may actually have a better chance of winning the Champions League than the league – it looks as though their problem this season will be drawing games they ought to have won; in knockout ties that's less of an issue than over a 38-game season".
His colleague Julien Laurens tips teenager Anthony Martial to become one of the stars of this season's competition: "He is a special player and he will express all his potential in this Manchester United team as they will play on his qualities. Plus, Van Gaal is the perfect coach to guide him to a new level."
Verdict: Surprise semi-finalists, according to Jamie Jackson of the Guardian.
Manchester City
City are desperate to finally achieve something in Europe having failed to make it past the last 16 since their return to the elite.
Captain Vincent Kompany said as much ahead of the Citizens’ game against Juventus, and he was right, says Oliver Kay of The Times. "Too often over the past four seasons, as they have fallen twice at the group stage and twice at the first knockout stage, City managers and players have hidden behind the luck of the draw.
"Out of 14 home matches in Champions League campaigns, City have won five... Far too many times, under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, they have been found wanting on the European stage against sub-elite opposition, particularly at home."
It is time for things to change, and expectations are high after a stellar start to the Premier League season.
Verdict: "Manuel Pellegrini now has a squad equipped to go deep into the competition," says Jackson of the Guardian.
Arsenal
According to statistical analysis from sports data company Stats, Arsenal are the least likely of the English clubs to win the Champions League this season. They have a 77.9 per cent chance of making it to the knock-out rounds but a 3.6 per cent chance of winning the trophy, which will not come as a surprise to fans.
"Arsenal's last-16 exit feels even more certain, given that they will probably finish as runners-up to Bayern Munich in the draw," laments David Hytner of the Guardian.
Verdict: Another early exit for the underachieving Gunners. "Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United should all be equipped to go on a deep run... It's just that lately, for whatever reason, they've had a habit of getting in their own way in Europe," says Yahoo Sports.
Chelsea
Write them off at your peril. Three of the Daily Telegraph's sports writers pick the Blues as winners of this year's competition, making them second favourites behind holders Barcelona.
"Plenty must change after their poor start but Jose Mourinho has structured training to peak later in the season and history suggests he will again go close in Europe soon," says Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph.
"Mourinho's charges have so much experience and ability that anything short of a semi-final berth in Europe will be a disappointment to them," adds Yahoo, but other observers are not so sure that the Blues will make it that far.
Verdict: They are not scaring anyone at this stage, but they should win their group and are the most likely English winners according to Stats.
