Rio Ferdinand is backing Manchester City to win the European Cup (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says he’s ‘reluctantly’ backing Manchester City to win the Champions League this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side progressed to the last four on Wednesday night after seeing off Bayern Munich with a 4-1 aggregate win over the Germans.
City will take on Real Madrid in the semi-finals, in what is a repeat of last season’s clash where Carlo Ancelotti’s men saw off Guardiola’s side.
However, City have added Erling Haaland to their ranks since then and the Norwegian scored again in Bavaria to take his season total to 47.
And Ferdinand believes the former Dortmund striker will make the difference this year to take City to the crown.
Erling Haaland scored his 47th goal of the season (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
‘Reluctantly, I will say Man City. But I have said it for the last three years, I will continue in that vain,’ said Ferdinand.
‘I think they’re going to get it right. ‘Haaland’s impact [will be the difference].’
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City face Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals and they’re favourites to defend their Premier League title following dropped points from leaders Arsenal against West Ham on Sunday.
It means City are on course to replicate the treble that Manchester United won in 1999.
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Can they do it?