Former Reds star doubts old side’s credentials.
Bayern Munich and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has backed Chelsea as the only English club in serious contention to win the Champions League this season, according to the Daily Mirror.
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The Spanish international won the competition with Real Madrid last season before making the surprise move to the Allianz Arena this term, and has backed the reigning champions to be among the favourites, along with his current team.
Alonso also mentioned Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain as contenders, whilst singling out Premier League leaders Chelsea as the only team from England with a chance of finishing as champions of Europe this year.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, ourselves – Dortmund are always a tricky club to play against,” Alonso said. “So I respect lots of clubs; Paris Saint Germain as well. It’s quite open.”
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City will have something to say about that, though these three teams have not got off to the best of starts in the competition so far, while Chelsea look in top form domestically and in Europe.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho has won the competition himself twice before, though not with Chelsea, guiding Porto and Inter Milan to success in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
Alonso was also a winner with Liverpool back in his days at Anfield, scoring in the final against AC Milan, but he has notably excluded his old club as among the contenders to win it this time.