Pep Guardiola: Spanish Trio, Not Man City Among Champions League Favorites

Pep Guardiola is heaping pressure on European soccer’s elite clubs as they attempt to ascend to the mountaintop.

Guardiola named Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain among favorites to win the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, according to FIFA.com. Guardiola, head coach of German giant Bayern Munich, said his team hopes to join his list of front-runners.

“The three Spanish teams are among the favorites, yes, but also Chelsea will be in the fight, and maybe PSG,” Guardiola told Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, according to FIFA.com. “We’d also like to be there in Berlin.”

Guardiola’s favorites include last season’s European champion and runner-up, the Madrid duo, as well as 2012 winner Chelsea and perennial contender Barcelona.

However, Guardiola omitted Manchester City from the favorites’ ranks. Manchester City has won England’s Premier League twice in the last three seasons, but its record in Europe — it only has advanced from the Champions League group stage once (last season) — belies their ambition to become and remain one of the continent’s leading clubs.

Guardiola also appeared to downplay his side’s chances in European soccer’s elite competition, despite its status as the dominant team in Germany and the winner of Champions League in 2013. Guardiola is in his second season on Bayern Munich’s hot seat and is under intense pressure to win the Champions League on German soil — Berlin’s Olympiastadion hosts the final on June 6.

The knockout stages of the Champions League begin Tuesday when the round of 16 kicks off. Two of Guardiola’s favorites, PSG and Chelsea, meet in the round’s most highly anticipated matchup, meaning only one will progress to the last eight.