Former Etihad defender Joleon Lescott doesn\u2019t fancy his old club to be favorites to top their group for the first time in years ahead of big European kick-off. In fact he doesn\u2019t even believe they have a realistic chance of lifting the trophy this season.<\/p>\n
Lescott reckons his old side\u2019s Group A rivals, Paris Saint-Germain, pose the biggest threat to Chelsea\u2019s defence of their crown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably the first time City won’t be favorites to top the group for a few years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlong with Chelsea, PSG\u2019s front three of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi should make them equal favorites.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019re firing, I don\u2019t know if anyone stops them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have good balance, there\u2019s the addition of Sergio Ramos and I love Marquinhos.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s obvious Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will have to work hard to find a way to finish ahead of PSG in their Champions League group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are players who, if they play well, you just don\u2019t stop them and PSG have three up front and one at the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only blessing in disguise is that, if City don\u2019t finish top of their group, they can\u2019t face PSG and then they can\u2019t face any of the English teams until the quarter-finals.\u201d<\/p>\n
City kick off their Champions League campaign against RB Leipzig on Wednesday but the game all eyes will be on is their clash with Messi and gang on September 28.<\/p>\n
Lescott added: \u201cI don\u2019t think you can try to picture a scenario where you stop those three.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe set-up of the team and the unit at the back, you\u2019re going to need every player on it at any given time.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrevention is better than cure, so you need to be able to nullify the supply chain.<\/p>\n
\u201cEderson will have to make saves and every City player is going to have to play well.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s not going to be an individual at the back or one specific factor that makes you beat PSG, collectively you have to be on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be tough games and a good marker of where City are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLosing a final only has an impact on this season when they get to the final again,\u201d Lescott added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they get there, they will use last year as motivation to go the extra mile.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that isn\u2019t going to be the focus for the Leipzig, PSG and Brugge games.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be, \u2018No, we have to be professional and execute what we have been working on\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then if we get to the final and analyze last year, it has to be, \u2018No, I don\u2019t want that feeling again\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cCity can win it \u2014 any of the English teams can win it \u2014 but, domestically, I tend to pick the previous season\u2019s winners as favorites and it\u2019s the same in the Champions League.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo having won the competition and having strengthened as well as anyone, Chelsea are favorites.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played against Romelu Lukaku and he doesn\u2019t get enough respect tactically, he\u2019s a very clever forward, unpredictable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe plays to his attributes and strengths, but he is able to adapt his game and he obviously has more experience, he has got better and is playing well.\u201d<\/p>\n
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