Manchester City are ‘Champions League favorites’, insists Viktor Claesson

FC Copenhagen deputy captain Viktor Claesson admits that stopping Manchester City and ‘killer’ Erling Haaland is the most difficult footballing task he has ever faced.

The Swedish international and his colleagues were unable to stop or even slow down City at Etihad Stadium last week, losing 5-0 in the first of two Champions League clashes.

The Group G reverse match will take place on Tuesday in the Danish capital and while City could make changes, with qualification to the round of 16 not yet completed, Claesson doesn’t expect the task to be any easier.

Haaland will no doubt appreciate the prospect of scoring more goals after scoring 20 goals – including a brace against Copenhagen last time out – in just 13 appearances for City this season.

“They are the best team in the world, the best I’ve ever met by far,” said winger Claesson, who took over as captain in last week’s game after team-mate Carlos Zeca sustained an injury. to the knee that put an end to all of this. season.

For me they are the favorites in the Champions League. They have been in recent years but have not succeeded in the final part.

Now they also have a very good striker. Before they had good touch players, no mistakes, easy play, but now they also have the killer in the box.

“Whenever he enters the box, he always scores.”

With just one point from their three games, while City have nine and Borussia Dortmund six, Copenhagen are really out of the game for a place in the next round.

Haaland was among the goals when he scored two goals in Man City’s opener against Copenhagen.

For them the challenge is to try to bring Sevilla to the consolation position in the Europa League by finishing third in the group.

“We know it would have been an advantage to get points from the game (last week),” said Claesson.

“But we weren’t there and I hope we can learn from that. Let’s hope we can do a better performance on Tuesday.”