'Manchester City Favourites To Retain UEFA Champions League Title', Says Ex-Defender Mark Seagraves

ABP Live had an opportunity to be part of a group media interaction with former City star Mark Seagraves who reckons that the Sky Blues are the favourites to retain the European crown this season.

Former English footballer Mark Seagraves.

The leg 1 of Round of 16 UEFA Champions League 2023-24 fixtures got underway earlier in the week with Manchester City beating Copenhagen 3-1 and Real Madrid registering a 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig among the results in the first set of fixtures. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) also find themselves at an advantage having won the opening leg 2-0 over Real Sociedad. Bayern Munich succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Lazio.

Before City's clash against Copenhagen on February 10 (Saturday), ABP Live had an opportunity to be part of a group media interaction with former City star Mark Seagraves who reckons that the Sky Blues are the favourites to retain the European crown especially after the return of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne into the scheme of things.

"Well it's the easiest tie of all the ties," Seagraves, former English footballer and currently one of the pundits on SonyLIV for their covergae of the UEFA Champions League, said before the Man City vs Copenhagen UCL match.

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"I'm expecting them to go through. Having De Bruyne back and Haaland back, business as usual for him. Brilliant for Manchester City. They need their best players. They are the favourites, in my open, very much the favourites to retain it (UCL title).

Have a look at some of the other things Mark Seagraves had to say:

Manchester City vs Chelsea In Premier League

As far as City are concerned, after their win over Copenhagen they will be welcoming Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday (February 17). The two English giants, however, are having contrasting seasons with Pep Guardiola's men one of the frontrunners for the title this year, just five points behind leaders Liverpool having played two matches less than them, Mauricio Pochettino's side, by contrast, are at the tenth place in the table and would be eyeing to secure a Champions League berth next season from here on.

Both sides though are coming on the back of wins with City beating Everton 2-0 in their last domestic game before their victory over Copenhagen, Chelsea also won their fixture over Crystal Palace 3-1.