Messi chooses the favourites for the Champions League, snubs Liverpool

Lionel Messi of PSG
Lionel Messi of PSG - IMAGO / Le Pictorium

The Argentine star has opined about the teams who can win the Champions League this season.

PSG star Lionel Messi has weighed in on the favourites for the Champions League this season.

The Argentine has been off to a sedate start at Paris Saint-Germain but he scored his first goal against Manchester City in the UCL.

While admitting that there are huge expectations around PSG in this year’s UCL, Messi claims that the Premier League trio Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United are also strong favourites.

The former Barca star also adds Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern to the list of title contenders.

Messi said (h/t Mirror): “It is true that the centre of attention is on PSG, but there are other very strong teams, such as Chelsea, the Manchester teams (United and City), Real Madrid, who always responds, Inter Milan, Bayern.”

However, the 34-year-old has surprisingly left behind Liverpool in the list despite their red hot form this season. Jurgen Klopp’s side are yet to suffer a defeat across all competitions this season.

Inter is a surprise choice because of their poor start to this season’s Champions League – a win and a draw in 2 games – and their record in the European competition in recent years leaves a lot to be desired.

Messi also expressed his desire to win the Champions League with PSG, the trophy which keeps on evading for Les Parisiens. And the six-time Ballon d’Or winner last won the UCL title in 2015.

The Copa America winner added: “It is everyone’s dream to win the Champions League here,”

“The club has been working towards this goal for a few years and lately it has been close.

From a personal point of view it is the same, I would love to win the Champions League, as I said when I was still in Barcelona.

“It is a very good, very difficult competition to win, but I think this group of players has the weapons to win this title.”