Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester City can lift the Champions League – if Pep Guardiola solves the defensive problems that have allowed Liverpool to take their Premier League title.
Klopp feels the fight for his team’s European crown will be between City and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich when the competition is completed in Portugal next month.
He saw his new champions given a reality check by the Blues in a 4-0 thrashing at the Etihad on Thursday night, but felt there were still signs of the defensive frailties that have seen City concede more goals than Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester United and Sheffield United this season.
Klopp said: “I think, for me, the two big favourites left in the competition are Bayern and Man City.
“Bayern played an impressive season in Germany after Hansi Flick took over and these two are the favourites.
“When you see Man City, when you see the squad there.
“Everybody needs luck and if you want to win the Champions League you should have your best line up ready for the final if possible.
“But I really think these two teams are the two favourites so, yes, City have a massive, massive chance.
“But even in the game (against Liverpool) which City won deservedly, we should have scored three goals.
“We should have - and we would have normally.
“They have so much quality, but no team in the world is perfect. City is not, Bayern is not, we are not.
“But you need to be nearly perfect in precise moments to win the Champions League.”
City have never gone beyond the quarter-finals under Guardiola, but lead Real Madrid 2-1 with a place in the last eight up for grabs and the competition set to be completed with a mini-tournament in Lisbon next month.
