Stan Collymore revealed that he believes Liverpool and Manchester City were the two English teams who could win the Champions League this season.
The outspoken pundit then shared that while he would love his former side, Liverpool, to win the prestigious tournament, he would be very pleased if Man City were the team to beat them to it.
Collymore shared that was happy over the thought of Pep Guardiola’s side winning the Champions League this season as Sergio Aguero as well as Vincent Kompany deserved to lift the trophy with the club after being fantastic servants.
“Liverpool and City are the two English teams who can win the Champions League but United and Spurs should be looking at the semi-finals as a minimum as well,” wrote the pundit in his column for the Daily Mirror.
“Naturally, as a former Liverpool player, I’d love to see them go one step further than last season, but if City were to be the English team to triumph, I’d be very pleased for them as well.
“Not least Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, two fantastic servants who have been both very lucky and very unlucky over the years in which they have helped change the face of their club.
“Both have endured the sort of injury problems that would have crippled lesser men, Kompany in particular, and both have seen off the rivals who have come in to challenge for their place in the starting line-up, that speaks volumes about both as characters and footballers.
“As an ex-striker, I love to watch Aguero, I know he has had the sort of players around him for years now that any striker would love but the fact he has had only one wobble in eight years, when Pep Guardiola arrived, is very impressive indeed.
“Aguero will be remembered as one of the great Premier League strikers long after he calls it a day, and one of the best strikers never to lift the Champions League trophy if City do keep falling short.”
OPINION
Collymore’s claim that the Reds could win the Champions League, and that he would love to see that, will no doubt be well received by supporters. However it is odd to hear him then share his happiness over the thought of Man City winning the trophy instead. Yet his explanation behind wanting to see Kompany and Aguero lift the trophy for Man City is somewhat understandable as it can’t be denied that the two players have stuck with the club and have been a part of its fantastic transformation in recent years. The only issue with Collymore’s reasoning is his thoughts on Aguero. The pundit seems to imply that the prolific Premier League forward somehow needs a Champions League winners medal to cement his legacy. Though that’s not the case. If Lionel Messi doesn’t win the World Cup by the time he retires, will people focus on that rather than all his other fantastic accomplishments? Probably not. The same is the case with Aguero. If the forward doesn’t ended up with a Champions League winners medal at Man City, then it’s not going to overshadow his other achievements. He will always be highly rated at that club as he has been an important part of their history.
