Modric tips PSG for Champions League title

After losing 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 ties of the Champions League to Manchester City, Real Madrid forward, Luka Modric has backed PSG to win the elite club competition.

This has been the only trophy that has eluded the french champions despite having one of the most expensive forward lines.

City had shocked Zinedine Zidane’s men at the Bernabeau in the first leg with the second leg yet to be decided due to the coronavirus pandemic. UEFA had said that the competition would resume, but it has yet to resolve on the format the competition will take. There had been rumours that all the remaining games will take place at one location, and Portugal has been touted to be the host country.

The French champions have not been in action since March after the league body canceled the 2019-20 season and declared PSG the winners per match.

They progressed into the last eight after beating Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors at the Parc des Princes on 11 March.

As the pandemic hit the world, some of their players, like Neymar, quickly went back to Brazil and returned. The Brazilian superstar arrived Paris kilos (6.6lbs) lighter than when he left.  Others include Marquinhos and Keylor Navas,  and Edinson Cavani. They had arrived before the French government could make expected announcements, which include potential quarantine for non-EU arrivals.

The squad reunited in the capital and was due to get back to training later this month. The only competition feasible for them to participate in is the Champions League, which comes up in August.

Speaking with Gazzetta dello Sport, Modric believes PSG can lift the European game’s biggest trophy even if it doesn’t play again before August.

The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, who also said Barcelona and Bayern Munich should not be overlooked, added that Atletico Madrid, which knocked out the defending champions, Liverpool need to be given attention.

Not leaving out his team, he said the winner of the tie also stands a chance of winning the European clubs’ biggest tournament.

Written by:  Oladipupo Mojeed