Former Super Eagles defender Godwin Okpara believes Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, are not the favourites to win this season’s UEFA Champions League, Soccernet.ng reports.
The former PSG star made the revelation while admitting that the French giants remain one of the strongest teams left in the competition.
Speaking in an interview with the New Telegraph, Okpara explained that PSG are still adjusting after several changes within the squad, which has affected their consistency.
“Paris Saint-Germain is not the same team we used to know,” he said.
“There have been changes, and they are still trying to find their balance. That makes them difficult to predict. You cannot say for sure how they will perform in every match. However, they still have quality, and in football, anything can happen.”
Okpara also pointed out that winning the Champions League requires more than just talent. According to him, PSG will need to improve quickly if they want to defend the title they won for the first time last year.
“If they manage to find consistency at the right time, they could go far,” he added.
“But based on their current level, it will not be easy for them to win the Champions League again. If they do, it will require a lot of effort and maybe a bit of luck.”
He also suggested that the team’s tactical approach could play a role in their success or failure.
“The coach may also be trying different tactics to confuse opponents. Sometimes, that approach can work, especially in knockout competitions. For now, they remain one of the contenders, but not the clear favourites.”
Strong displays show PSG are still serious contenders
Even though Okpara has doubts, Paris Saint-Germain have shown strong form in this season’s competition and are proving they should not be underestimated.
The French champions reached the quarter-finals in impressive style, beating former winners Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the round of 16. They won the first leg 5-2 at home and followed it up with a confident 3-0 victory away at Stamford Bridge.
Before that, PSG also came through a tricky play-off tie against AS Monaco, winning 5-4 on aggregate. These results show that, even if they are not perfect, they are still very dangerous.
Their performances in the league phase were mixed, finishing 11th, which forced them into the play-offs. However, they recorded some big wins along the way, including victories over top sides like Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen.
Now, PSG face one of their toughest tests yet against Liverpool in the quarter-finals. The two-legged tie will be a major test of whether they have truly found the balance Okpara believes they are still searching for.
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