Joe Cole believes Man City could be one of four English semi-finalists in the Champions League this season.

City made it all the way to their first ever final last season only to be beaten by Chelsea in the final 1-0 in Porto.

They did, however, waltz to a third Premier League title in four years as well as a fourth consecutive Carabao Cup win to have a successful campaign once again under Pep Guardiola.

But the aim is and has always been to become European champions and former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Cole believes that City are good enough to do that, while backing the Premier League to produce all four semi-finalists in this year's competition.

"I would be stunned if we don't get at least two teams in the semi-finals, possibly three and maybe even four. I just think we are so much stronger than the other leagues," Cole told Daily Mail.

"The best thing for English football now is that we had a 10-year lull when none of our top players were competing at Champions League level, from 2000 to 2010, now you look at Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, their teams are full of English players. That's why we're so unbelievable.

"I have to see what PSG looks like with those players. That could go one way or the other still because it's still unbalanced as a squad. Had the Messi deal been done earlier, I think certain other types of players would have come in, more runners. We'll wait and see but that's an exciting project to watch."

City start their campaign against RB Leipzig on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, before other group games against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge.

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