English teams will be “very strong” in Champions League and ‘could surprise,’ says Ronaldo

Brazilian icon Ronaldo believes the English sides will be the biggest threat to the Spanish giants in the Champions League this season. 

La Liga sides have dominated European competitions in recent years, with Real Madrid winning four Champions Leagues in five years and Barcelona winning the other. On top of that, Atletico Madrid have been in two Champions League finals in the past five years, with them and Sevilla winning eight out of the last thirteen Europa League titles.

Ronaldo, who starred for both El Clasico sides during his illustrious playing career, thinks it will be one of the two Spanish giants who eventually win the trophy, but is backing the Premier League sides to push them closest.

He told Omnisport: “The favourites to win the Champions League are the same: Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“Real Madrid because of their history and tradition. They won four of the last five, and the last three in a row. So Real have an important place in this competition.

“Many teams have been reinforced a lot. This competition is very difficult, you need to know how to play it well.

“When the group stage finishes you have the knockout stage. It’s a very fun and beautiful competition, but you need to know how to play it in order to go all the way.

“The Spanish teams know this very much, but I believe we could have surprises from the English teams.

“They are very strong and they have financial support to buy and sell players – I believe in them.”

English struggles in Europe

Chelsea were the last English team to win the Champions League back in 2012 and, since then, English sides have generally struggled in Europe’s elite competition.

Liverpool made the final last season, eventually losing 3-1 to Real Madrid, but that is the only time since Chelsea’s triumph that an English side has managed to make the final – the next-closest was Manchester City’s semi-final appearances in 2016.

However, with Manchester City looking very strong with their domestic domination last season, as well as Liverpool vastly strengthening their squad again, this season could see the Premier League sides push their Spanish counterparts much closer.

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