Jose Mourinho has predicted the two sides which will reach the Champions League finals.
Jose Mourinho is currently without a job after getting axed by Manchester United during the end of the year. The Portuguese International has confirmed that he has turned down three offers from European clubs in order to find a place where he would be given the transfer power. He was told to pick the finalist of this year’s Champions League.
The last round was filled with full of drama with some ties going down to stoppage times and penalties. Juventus, Liverpool, Barcelona, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Ajax, and Porto are the sides to progress to the next round.
With four English teams still in the competition, it is likely to see at least one eliminated from the competition with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City fighting for a place in the Semifinals. However, the former Chelsea gaffer, who is currently involved with Bein Sports as a pundit has backed Juventus and Barcelona to go head-to-head at Wanda Metropolitano this May.
Should Juventus overcome Ajax in the Quarterfinals, they will face a showdown with Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur in the last four. On the other hand, if Barcelona successfully face the test against Manchester United in the last eight, they will have to overcome either of Liverpool or Porto in the Semifinals to secure a place in the finals.
Mourinho feels that the individual quality of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be too much for the opponents and feels that the rivalry between those will heat up in the finals.
“Juventus and Barcelona are the two great candidates for the competition and will reach the final,” he told AFP.
“All they talk about Ronaldo and Messi, but I prefer to talk about Juve and Barcelona. I will always be a football coach and football continues to be a team sport. The Bianconeri and Blaugrana have experience, talent and a special player each.
“The English teams, Ajax and Porto are good sides too but they don’t have the same amount of experience.”
Juventus and Barcelona will have a tough ask if they manage to qualify for the Semifinals. Last year finalists Liverpool, who blew away opponents for fun en route to their final heartbreak in Kyiv last campaign should be considered seriously in the competition along with Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side are running for all four trophies this campaign having already lifted the League Cup this campaign.
Ajax have already showcased their brilliance by blistering away the reigning Champions Real Madrid at their own patch. Manchester United are currently enjoying their time under their interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with their attacking methodology which is getting paid off. It will be an interesting tussle as Porto and Tottenham Hotspur also have the pedigree to blow away opponents on their day.
When Jose Mourinho predicted for the World Cup, but it did not go well. The Portuguese International tipped Argentina and Portugal to meet in the finals of the tournament, but both the sides were eliminated during the Round of 16 stage. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping that his prophecy does come true this time..
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WHAT’S NEXT?
Mourinho has confirmed that he has turned down three offers from European clubs this summer as he is waiting for a proper club in the summer transfer window. Certainly, there will not be any shortage of offers for Mourinho, but it will be interesting to see where he would end up in the forthcoming month.
