TNT Sport pundit Jules Breach reckons Manchester City could be about to do something no Premier League side has ever done.
City finally got the prize they have been striving after for over a decade last season when they clinched the Champions League trophy for the first time.
It was a tense final against Inter in Istanbul but Rodri’s late strike was the difference as Pep Guardiola’s side completed a historic treble.
What’s the next step after winning one Champions League? Winning it again, of course, and City certainly could.
The Blues will return to European action next week when they take on FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the last 16 tie on Tuesday. Breach can only see City winning the match and then the whole thing.
Manchester City predicted to achieve the unprecedented
Writing in FourFourTwo, Breach did praise Copenhagen after their stunning victory over Manchester United in the group stages last year but gave them little chance against the blue side of the city.
“They don’t have a side full of stars – something the Sky Blues have a plethora of,” Breach said.
“And with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland back, they have two of their best ready to finish the campaign on a high.
“That, on top of the team’s statement group-stage displays – winning all six matches with an average possession of 69 per cent – makes it difficult not to picture them becoming the first English side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.”
What an achievement it would be
Two English teams have retained the European Cup and it was actually done so in the same four year stretch.
Liverpool did first in 1977 and 1978 and they were then followed up by Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980.
However, it has never been done since the competition changed to the Champions League or the foundation of the Premier League in 1992.
So it would be an incredible accomplishment if City were to become the first English team in in nearly 45 years and of the modern era to retain the toughest trophy to win in the world.
Outside of England, Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter, Ajax, Bayern Munich and AC Milan have all retained the trophy, so City would be added to an esteemed list if they were to do so.
