Manchester City must be viewed as the favorites to win the Champions League this year, according to Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
City won the competition for the first time last season when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the final after defeating the holders Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals.
Madrid, who have a record 14 titles, including five in the last ten years, will open the 2023–24 season against Union Berlin at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
“I think City are favourites,” Ancelotti told the media on Tuesday. “They have a squad which allowed them to win it last year, which hasn’t changed much. There are always surprises, above all in the latter stages, but right now City could be considered favourites.”
Real Madrid are in Group C alongside Union Berlin, Napoli, and Braga.
“Obviously [our target is] to get through the group stage, to go through the quarters, and to compete until the end. Making the last four, we can say that without too much pressure, that’s a target we can reach.
“I see us as a team that will compete. We’ve never thought of ourselves as favourites and I don’t think City will either as of today.”
Right-back Dani Carvajal will miss the game on Wednesday due to a muscle strain, but the Italian coach has not ruled the defender out of the LaLiga rivalry against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
“We prefer to rest him to avoid problems. He’ll undergo tests tomorrow. He feels quite OK so we think it isn’t serious, he could be back soon.” Ancelotti insisted.
