Manchester United have been named alongside Manchester City and Chelsea as one of the favourites to win the Champions League title next season.
That is according to Paul Merson, who insisted that the Red Devils could be a “force to be reckoned with in the UEFA Champions League.”
United failed to reach the last 16 of the Champions League last season after finishing third in Group H behind Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men dropped into the Europa League and came in touching distance of major silverware before suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal in the final.
United, who finished second in the Premier League, will return to the Champions League next season.
The Red Devils have splashed out this summer and signed Jadon Sancho in a whopping £73m deal from Borussia Dortmund.
And United have also reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign Raphael Varane, who is set to undergo a medical ahead of finalising his £34m transfer to Old Trafford.
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Speaking in his column for Sportskeeda, Merson insisted that United’s play “suits Champions League football more than the Premier League.”
The Arsenal hero also named PSG and Bayern Munich in his top five Champions League contenders alongside City, United and Chelsea.
“I’ve gone for Manchester United as one of the top five contenders for the Champions League this season and I’ll explain why,” Merson wrote.
“I know they were knocked out in the group stages last season, but the way they play suits Champions League football more than the Premier League.
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“They counterattack as well as anyone in Europe and have a squad that has match-winners across the pitch with the additions of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.
“Sancho adds a bit more guile to the team, while Varane is an experienced defender who will not only allow them to play a higher line but also complement Harry Maguire perfectly.
“Manchester United are the biggest club in world football in my opinion, so I’m not going to call them dark-horses.
“They’ve gone almost eight years without winning the Premier League or the Champions League and that could so easily become 15 or 20 if they don’t take the initiative.
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“They look like a strong team and it goes without saying that each one of their forwards, barring Edinson Cavani, are incredibly quick! “I don’t know if Manchester United will win the Premier League title, but when you look at the way they play, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the UEFA Champions League.”
City reached their first Champions League final last season, but Pep Guardiola’s men were defeated 1-0 by Chelsea at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. The Champions League group stage draw for the 2021-22 season will take place on 26th August in Istanbul. Featured Image Credit: PA |