Former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso believes this season’s UEFA Champions League is a free affair though he was definite that just five or six clubs can realistically say they can win it.
Alonso, who won the Champions League with Liverpool and Real in 2005 and 2014 respectively added that only one team from the English Premier League (EPL) Chelsea, can actually win the title.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, ourselves (Bayern Munich) Dortmund are always a tricky club to play against,” Alonso told UEFA.com. “So I respect lots of clubs; Paris Saint Germain as well. It’s quite open.”
Bayern played AS Roma on Tuesday and he praised the Italian team for having improved from last season.
“You could see last season that have taken a step up – they are playing great stuff.
“We faced them in a pre-season friendly with Madrid, so I know how they play. They are definitely going to be challenging for the Scudetto, and they want to reach the next stage in the Champions League.
“So for us, the one in Rome, the first one, is a vital game, because we have got six points from the first two games and we are in a good position,” he said.
