Ex-Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott says he is confident that his former team can win back-to-back Champions League titles as long as they “avoid” Arsenal.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Lescott said that the Gunners have a better chance of beating Pep Guardiola‘s side over two legs than other teams in the competition:
“I’m confident for City to win [the trophy] as long as they avoid Arsenal. We’ll probably expect every predictable team to go through the tie – Arsenal and Porto are fairly similar in terms of their league stature – but I think that Arsenal would understand and have slightly less respect and fear for Man City.”
“With Real Madrid, as much as they are the team for the Champions League, they’re not used to playing the way City make you play. Whether you like it or not, whoever you are – Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid – you’re going to be pushed back and are you used to that?”
“Are you used to defending for 70% of the game rather than being in possession? I think Arsenal have a better understanding of that so over two legs, I think they have a better chance than other teams. In a final, you just don’t know.”
City fans on X are not particularly impressed with Lescott’s remarks, with many pointing to Arsenal’s questionable performances in Europe:
He said avoid WHO
— 𝘈𝘺𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘣 🫥 (@Ayyoub172) March 4, 2024
I would be happy if we draw them
— Mani (@mani434raju) March 4, 2024
If They avoid who😭😭
We played them with out rodri stones kdb with rico lewis on midfield and they scored lucky deflected goal btw— TP (@YT0364696723994) March 4, 2024
Same Arsenal that Porto will eliminate?
— Sass (@MCFC_Sass) March 4, 2024
Arsenal in Europe is a joke
— Nxel. (@Nxxeel) March 4, 2024
Avoid Arsenal? If Porto don’t knock them out I want them in semis because I wanna play Madrid in quarters
— Emir🇸🇪 (@FodenCTID) March 4, 2024
Playing teams from the same country is always more difficult
Despite some City supporters being pretty dismissive, Guardiola would probably agree with Lescott’s comments. Arsenal have an excellent defence and they have shown in recent weeks that they can be deadly in attack as well.
It’s never easy playing a team from the same country in Europe simply because the two coaches know each other’s tactics so well.
City have a job to do first before thinking about their next opponents
The Cityzens have a two-goal lead from the first leg of their round of 16 tie against FC Copenhagen. They need to finish the job at the Etihad on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have a one-goal deficit to overcome versus Porto so there is no guarantee that they will be in the draw for the quarter-final anyway.
