Jamie Carragher confidently predicts Champions League winner: "What a club!"
Real Madrid are aiming to win a staggering 16th Champions League title this season and the new league table format won't get in their way, according to Jamie Carragher
by Felix Keith · The MirrorJamie Carragher has tipped Real Madrid to win the Champions League this season, even if they suffer more shock defeats in the group stages.
Real are the most successful club in the competition’s history, having won 15 titles, and are the defending champions this season. They have lifted the trophy in six of the past 11 years and have developed a serious pedigree on the biggest stage by grinding out wins when they are not at their best.
The new Champions League format, which sees 36 sides all playing eight games in a league table, has thrown a curveball this season. Real currently sit 12th after winning two and losing one of their opening three matches and are therefore outside of the top eight, who will qualify automatically for the knockout stages.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lille last month and now face tough fixtures against AC Milan, Liverpool and Europa League champions Atalanta up next. However, Carragher thinks that after demolishing last year's finalists Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in their last match, Real will come alive in the knockout stages and defend their title in the final in May.
He said on The Overlap’s fan debate: “You know what Real Madrid are going to do with this new Champions League format, they’re going to sneak through that qualifying round by the skin of their teeth and then they’ll end up going on to win it all. What a club.”
Carragher is generally in favour of the new format, which has increased the number of matches but is yet to throw up much excitement. He believes that interest will ramp up towards the end of the initial stage, especially if giants like Real Madrid remain in danger of not qualifying for the last-16 automatically.
“It’s funny with Real Madrid – obviously they’re not in the top eight at the moment,” he explained. “And the next two games are AC Milan and Liverpool. Let’s say we (Liverpool) beat them at Anfield and they get a draw with AC Milan; you’re in a situation where Real Madrid have got three games to go and the table’s moving.”
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Real Madrid are still licking their wounds after being thrashed 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico in their last match. The loss has been followed by some severe criticism from supporters and the media, but Ancelotti is not concerned.
“I do not regret my game plan," said Ancelotti in his post-match press conference. "I have been in football for 48 years, so I'm not wrong when I tell you that the first-half was good. It's different from the loss against Lille. We were very bad that day. We competed today.
“We have to learn from this. Self-criticism is fundamental. But we don't throw everything in the bin," added Ancelotti. Last time we lost 4-0 to Barcelona, we won La Liga and the Champions League. We fight on.”
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