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Bayern, Liverpool and Manchester City are the main contenders for 2021 Champions League title

Bayern torn apart Atletico Madrid with ease, Liverpool have done just enough to win in Amsterdam, Man City have shown the character against Porto.

Bayern have been supreme over Atletico. The Champions of Europe played with ease and they won 4:0 against poor performing Atletico. I love Spain and I just don’t understand, how is it possible that Atletico could play so poorly and without self esteem and confidence under Simeone, who pays attention to tactic, work ethic and discipline like any other manager in Europe over ten years now in Atletico de Madrid. Bayern could score more than four times, but they still overplayed Spanish side scoring four times. The Champions of Europe have been managing the match, like the entire season. They are on the way to win everything this year once again. Their defense is supreme and they work throughout the entire ninety minutes in defense, intercepting the ball quickly, closing down opposition immediately, when they lose possession and they create even more chances by simply “offensive rebounding”. It is very reminiscent to Barca in Guardiola era. Hard pressing enables more chances to be created. When you lose the ball and take the ball after 5-10 seconds, your opponents are not able to defend effectively – you can break the lines easily, far easier than playing with patience and high number of passes. Bayern are the reference point in the European stage right now, setting the tone and the pace, like Spaniards in late 2000s and early 2010s.

Atletico need to be improved. They need to work harder on the training ground, otherwise, Simeone will never clinch the European championship with Atletico. He was two times in final, but he never won. Atletico play like Italian teams under Diego Pablo Simeone management, but they were sloppy against Bayern, careless without the ball and they are lacking confidence, which is shocking. Spanish teams have the winning mentality. Sevilla won many times the Europa League, Real and Barca Champions League, Atletico were able to get through to finals of the Champions League.

Liverpool did what they needed to do to win against promising Ajax team away from home without their key player, Virgil Van Dijk. They have the abundance mentality and the experience to win regardless of negativity around them. It is a grit. I’m impressed, they have such a winning mentality and desire to win. Ajax loss is really harsh, they lost at home and it is incredibly hard to get through the group stage of the Champions League, if you are losing at home. Away from home is always harder.

Manchester City shown they have character, playing with uncompromising style against Porto. They are patient, committed, confident and good enough to play with resilience over the entire tournament and finally get the job done. Torres, Foden, Mahrez, Fernandinho, Sterling and Gundogan could make dreams come true for the City in 2021. Don’t forget, Kevin de Bruyne will come back and City will be even stronger.

I think Bayern are main contenders to clinch the title, but the competition is fierce in the European football.

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