Ronald Koeman, the Barcelona legend, expressed his opinion that the Catalan team is not the biggest favorite to win the UEFA Champions League title.
Koeman’s statement came after Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the quarter-finals, with the Catalans’ qualification to the semi-finals now looking almost certain.
Koeman said, in statements reported by Mundo Deportivo, “Barcelona is not the biggest favorite to win the Champions League. There are other teams playing at the same level, and I am backing Arsenal to win the title.”
He added, “I don’t think Borussia Dortmund is a giant team in Europe right now; they’re in 8th place in the German league and created only 5 chances against Barcelona.”
The Catalan icon continued, “Flick is managing the Barcelona team in the best way possible. I see the team in a very positive light, and they have a chance to win important titles.”
He added, “The coach is smart and manages the players well, and you can see a very positive atmosphere. It’s time to seize the team’s opportunities to win important trophies.”
Koeman also noted, “You can’t compare the current team to the one that was here a year or two ago; the players have more experience now.”
He continued, “If there’s one thing we should highlight, it’s that all the players now defend when they don’t have the ball. You can’t defend with eight players; you have to defend with 11.”
He concluded, “I enjoyed watching Barcelona play because Barcelona is still my home.”