Troy Deeney's Champions League Assessment: Arsenal Lead English Charge
Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has delivered his verdict on English clubs' prospects in this season's Champions League, identifying Arsenal and Manchester City as joint favorites while giving Tottenham Hotspur virtually no chance of success.
Arsenal's European Credentials Questioned Despite Dominant Form
Deeney acknowledged Arsenal's impressive campaign, noting the Gunners breezed through the group stage with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches, scoring 23 goals while conceding only four. However, he pointed to the club's lack of Champions League history as a potential psychological barrier.
'I think Arsenal have got the best team and the best squad but there's that unknown, we're not sure in the Champions League. They've never won it in their history,' Deeney explained during his analysis on CBS Sports.
As one of the top seeds, Arsenal are set to face either Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, or Atalanta in the round of 16, with the draw scheduled for Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Manchester City's Experience Balances Arsenal's Quality
Deeney rated both Arsenal and Manchester City at 30% each to win the competition, highlighting City's recent Champions League success under Pep Guardiola as a crucial factor.
'Manchester City have won it in their history, they are coming into a phase where it's starting to fit right, they've got Gianluigi Donnarumma there, they won it last year, obviously they've got Erling Haaland for the goals... it feels a bit different,' Deeney said, explaining why he couldn't separate the two Premier League giants.
Liverpool's Historical Pedigree Earns Respect
The former striker gave Liverpool a fighting chance based on their historical success in European competition, particularly noting the potential return of Alexander Isak as a significant boost should Arne Slot's team progress to the latter stages.
'I'm always going to give Liverpool a chance because of the history that they've had as a club in this competition,' Deeney stated, emphasizing the importance of experience in knockout football.
Chelsea and Newcastle Given Outside Chance
Deeney assigned Chelsea and Newcastle United 10% chances each, praising Chelsea's recent trophy success and young talent while acknowledging uncertainty about their manager's capabilities in European competition.
Regarding Newcastle, he noted their organizational strength and set-piece prowess as potential advantages in two-legged ties, suggesting they could tailor their approach based on specific opponents.
Tottenham's Dire Situation Dismissed Entirely
In the most scathing assessment, Deeney essentially wrote off Tottenham's chances following Thomas Frank's dismissal and a disastrous run of domestic results that has left the club in turmoil.
'Tottenham Hotspur have about as much chance of winning as me playing again. Impossible,' Deeney declared bluntly. 'They don't have a good team, we're not sure how the manager is, they've got no confidence through the team, they've got 13 fit players. It's not 0% but it's as close as it could be.'
Champions League Draw Details and Potential Opponents
The upcoming draw will determine pathways for all 16 remaining teams, revealing potential quarter-final, semi-final, and final matchups. Premier League clubs face the following possible opponents in the round of 16:
- Arsenal: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, or Atalanta
- Chelsea: Newcastle, Monaco, or PSG
- Liverpool: Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray, or Juventus
- Manchester City: Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid, or Benfica
- Tottenham: Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray, or Juventus
- Newcastle: Chelsea or Barcelona
Other notable matchups include Barcelona potentially facing Newcastle, Monaco, or PSG, while Bayern Munich could draw Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, or Sporting.
The Champions League draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and streamed free on the TNT Sports YouTube channel at 11am UK time on Friday, February 27, setting the stage for the competition's decisive phase.
