BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand has backed Manchester City to lift the Champions League this campaign.

The former Manchester United defender believes Citizens boss Pep Guardiola will silence the critics by securing the club’s first European Cup:

“I’m going to go with City, just because of Haaland and Pep, he’s driven to win this. He’s been involved with the Premier League, but the Champions League is where it’s at for him. He’ll shut many people up if he does get it done.”

It is surprising to hear a former player of a rival club backing City so strongly to break their Champions League duck. Whether Guardiola’s side are in good enough shape to back up Ferdinand’s claims, though we shall have to wait and see.

You would think they will get through their last 16 tie against RB Leipzig pretty comfortably, all things being equal, but knockout football can be unpredictable, as we saw when City lost in extra-time to Real Madrid last season.

Nearly all the bookmakers have City as the favourites, with Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Napoli and Chelsea trailing behind them in the betting markets. After their first leg defeat to AC Milan, Tottenham’s odds have lengthened considerably.