Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has claimed that Chelsea is the only Premier League club to win an 'open' Champions League title this season, instead of Group E rivals Manchester City.
The former Liverpool midfielder moved from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich this summer and is now attempting to win European club football's biggest prize with his third different club.
And the Spaniard named the German champions and Jose Mourinho's side as five potential champions, The Mirror reported.
Alonso said that Real, Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern and Dortmund are always a tricky club to play against. So, he added that he respects lots of clubs; Paris Saint Germain as well, saying that the Champions League is quite open.
The German champions play in Italy on Tuesday against a Roma team who held Manchester City 1-1 away in the last round of matches. The second club in Serie A are also a former club of Bayern coach Pep Guardiola.
Alonso said that one could see last season that Roma has taken a step up and they are playing great stuff. He added that his side faced them in a pre-season friendly with Real, so he knows how they play.
Alonso said that Roma is definitely going to be challenging for Bayern, and added that they want to reach the next stage in the Champions League.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app