Joe Cole continues to support PSG as the team to beat in the Champions League and has surprisingly dismissed Barcelona‘s chances of winning the title.
On Tuesday night, French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish league leaders Barcelona each secured their spots in the semi-finals.
PSG overcame a significant challenge to defeat Aston Villa with a 5-4 aggregate score, while Barcelona managed to advance despite their loss, finishing with a 5-3 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund.
Having already claimed the Ligue 1 title for the 2024-25 season, Paris Saint-Germain is set to face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals, while Barcelona will go up against Inter Milan or Bayern Munich.
Despite the scare PSG had against Villa, Cole maintains his belief that the French team is poised to finally secure a Champions League trophy.
When pressed about his predictions following the quarter-final first legs, Cole confirmed to TNT Sports: ‘Absolutely. We all recall the PSG team from a few years ago. They were winning league titles but were ineffective in tournaments like this. It’s commendable that PSG’s management decided to pivot in a new direction. They appear to be on the right track, and I genuinely believe they can win it. I’m confident in that decision.’
Concerns About Barcelona’s Chances
After Barcelona’s victory over Dortmund, Cole remarked, ‘Barcelona displayed certain vulnerabilities tonight. I don’t believe they possess what it takes to clinch the title. They were exposed too often.’ He cautioned that their strategy of playing a high defensive line against stronger teams like Bayern Munich or Inter Milan could be problematic.
Agreeing with Cole, Owen Hargreaves expressed his concerns regarding Barcelona, notably how they might be exploited defensively after their matches against Dortmund. ‘You must credit Dortmund for generating many good chances during the matches,’ he noted.
Barcelona Manager’s Reflections
Following the match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick commented: ‘We’ve reached the semi-finals. This outcome is what matters. Despite not performing at our best today, we deserve our place in the next round, having faced a formidable opponent in Dortmund.’ He emphasized the remarkable achievements of the team in recent weeks while noting there’s still a long journey ahead.
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