Louis Saha sees Bayern Munich as Paris Saint-Germain’s biggest obstacle to defending its Champions League crown, pointing to the German club’s experience and growing belief at the highest level.
Saha, the former France international and Premier League striker who played for both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, knows what it takes to compete for major European honors. He won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008 and believes Bayern Munich should again be considered among the teams
capable of going all the way.
While Saha acknowledged that PSG can absolutely repeat as European champions, he expects the competition to be even tougher this season. In particular, he singled out Bayern Munich as a team that could pose a major threat.
“It’s impossible to say that Paris Saint-Germain can’t win it again. It is very possible but it’s going to be harder this year because of Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, especially Bayern,” Saha told Betano. “Bayern have this confidence and experience now of always being a team you expect in the last four every year. I think that they can win it this season.
“In some ways I still think Barcelona are missing a replacement for Robert Lewandowski and they are extremely dependent on Lamine Yamal and Raphinia, so that gives me some doubts about them.
“Arsenal will find it hard to replicate their run to the final from last season. They surprised me that they did it because they didn’t have the kind of energy they had at the start of the competition last year. In the last 10 or 15 games they were lacking in confidence and dynamism and movement and I don’t think their striker situation helped them in many ways, especially in these types of games.
“They still don’t have the striker they need so I doubt Arsenal can do it this year but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manchester City go the furthest of the English teams.”
Experience could be particularly important for Bayern Munich. The club has remained a regular presence in the latter stages of the Champions League, and Saha believes that familiarity with those pressure-filled matches gives the team an important foundation.
Saha also expressed doubts about Barcelona, pointing to their reliance on Lamine Yamal and Raphinha and questioning whether they adequately replaced Robert Lewandowski. He was similarly skeptical about Arsenal’s chances of returning to the final, while suggesting Manchester City could ultimately go furthest among the English clubs.
For Bayern Munich, however, Saha’s assessment is particularly notable. He is not simply identifying Vincent Kompany’s side as another contender. In his view, Bayern Munich’s combination of experience, confidence, and quality makes them one of the teams most capable of preventing PSG from lifting the trophy again.
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