Arshavin: Six teams can win Champions League & Spurs are one of them

[tototoner]

still a lawro but high praise indeed

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Footbal..._Champions_League__Spurs_are_one_of_them.aspx

Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin believes that there are only six teams in Europe capable of winning the Champions League this season and counts north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur as one of the favourites alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Gunners.

Spurs are making their debut in the competition this season and still have to qualify for the group stages by overcoming a 3-2 deficit against Swiss side Young Boys this Wednesday at White Hart Lane. Nevertheless, citing the strength of the English game and heralding the two biggest sides in Spain, Arshavin believes that there will be no repeat of last season when Italy’s Inter Milan claimed Europe’s prestigious top prize.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the diminutive Russian international analysed last year’s result before politely tickling the fancy of Spurs supporting interviewer Danny Kelly.

“I guess it was by chance, because Inter had Mourinho and of course they deserved to win, no question.

“I see now though only six teams can win the Champions League...because I respect your team [Spurs], four from England and two from Spain.

Asked why he has written off the chances of reigning champions Inter, Arshavin continued, “because they lost Mourinho, the biggest man in their team.”

The draw for the group stage of the Champions League will be made by UEFA officials on Thursday once all the preliminary matches have been concluded.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Sounds like he was just telling the interviewer (Kelly) what he wanted to hear.

 

[Scutch]

Indeed. "Because I respect your team"

Meh.

 

[tototoner]

we are 10th in the betting, apart from Barca - Real Madrid - Man Utd - Chelsea and Arsenal the only others ahead of us are Inter, Bayern, Milan and Roma

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

We've got to get there first!

 

[Kendall]

I honestly do think Arshavin respects us. We showed him a lot of respect when we were courting him, but we couldn't thrash out a deal with Zenit.

Arshavin came to the Lane more than once during that period.

 

[Kendall]

we are 10th in the betting, apart from Barca - Real Madrid - Man Utd - Chelsea and Arsenal the only others ahead of us are Inter, Bayern, Milan and Roma

As odd as it sounds, I'd have us down to take Milan.

 

[myhartlane]

I honestly do think Arshavin respects us. We showed him a lot of respect when we were courting him, but we couldn't thrash out a deal with Zenit.

Arshavin came to the Lane more than once during that period.

Yeah, I think I remember an interview last season where he admitted that he wanted to and wished that he had signed for us (instead of the tossers he eventually signed for).

 

[PT]

Listening to his interview on Sky he sounds like the archtypal Russian with his accent. I half -expected him to be stroking a persian cat with his little finger in the corner of his mouth.

Fair play though - immacualte grasp of our language - dare I say better than our National Team Manager?

 

[sloth]

Tbh, there are several teams in CL who'd you'd back before us:

The big two in England
The big two in Spain
The big two in Italy
Bayern Munich
Roma
Sevilla
Benfica
Lyon

 

[mil1lion]

Barca, Real Madrid, Inter, AC Milan, Roma, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Lyon

All of these are more likely to win than us. I don't think Sevilla are up there though, since they've sold a few players this window (and could lose Fabiano aswell). We could be close to Lyon and Arsenal, but ultimately we're new to this and would do well to make the last 16.

 

[Breezer]

Tbh, there are several teams in CL who'd you'd back before us:

The big two in England
The big two in Spain
The big two in Italy
Bayern Munich
Roma
Sevilla
Benfica
Lyon

On our day i'd fancy our chances against all the teams you listed. My only fear would be Barcelona and maybe Real Madrid once they gel under JM.

I wouldn't put Benfica, Lyon, Sevilla, Roma or Milan ahead of us.

Barcelona
Man Utd
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Tottenham
Then the other lot....

 

[THFC6061]

Tbh, there are several teams in CL who'd you'd back before us:

The big two in England
The big two in Spain
The big two in Italy
Bayern Munich
Roma
Sevilla
Benfica
Lyon

Didn't we just beat Benfica on their own patch to win the Eusebio Cup?

Why... yes we did!

 

[mil1lion]

I find it funny that we're even being mentioned in this light after coming off a loss away to Young Boys. We still have a lot of growing up to do in the Champions League. We lost games in Europe to the likes of Udinese, Sevilla, Getafe, PSV and Shakhtar. Sure we've improved a fair bit (although we don't have Berbatov who was sublime in Europe), but this is also a big step up now.

We can't win away to Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or United. We're going to find away games extremely difficult in Europe. We also struggle against Spanish teams aswell (Getafe, Sevilla and even pre-season vs Barca and Villareal). They play us off the park at times. I just think we're up there in that next level down of the top European teams.

We'll still give anyone a game on our day, maybe cause the odd upset. But this is a huge learning curve for us if we get into the group stage.

 

[Kendall]

When did we lose to Sampdoria? We're a lot better than when we lost to Sevilla and even then, we'd have beaten them on their own turf if it wasn't for a dodgy pen decision where robbo got TWO hands on the ball.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Wasn't Getafe the game we knew Jol was leaving though?

I don't really count that one. The game was like a funeral.

 

[mil1lion]

Don't get me wrong, I think we could beat those teams now with what we have. But I also think it would be close. These are teams that did well in the UEFA/Europa Cup, but not so much in the Champions League (some having not played in the Champions League).

The step up between those and the top European teams is huge. We shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as thse teams. Hell Chelsea can't win the damn thing and they've won several League titles. We just clinched 4th spot and we'll be virgins in the Champions League if we win tomorrow.

When did we lose to Sampdoria? We're a lot better than when we lost to Sevilla and even then, we'd have beaten them on their own turf if it wasn't for a dodgy pen decision where robbo got TWO hands on the ball.

Sorry, I meant Udinese. All Italians look the same to me

Wasn't Getafe the game we knew Jol was leaving though?

I don't really count that one. The game was like a funeral.

I don't really see it as an excuse. They played us off the park.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I don't really see it as an excuse. They played us off the park.

There was just a weird vibe to that game. Everybody involved knew Jol had been fucked over.

We were indeed being outplayed and I remember thinking "JOL!! Make some fucking subs... try to change the game!!!" but he didn't bother.

Really odd game.

I suppose there's no excuse for losing, but we've already heard how temperamental players are when things don't go their way... even if it is "subconsciously" to quote BAE.

 

[michaelden]

I take this to mean Arshavin wants to be a Spurs player and you cant change my mind :hand:

 

[Rocksuperstar]

I'd fancy a shot at Roma, Inter (now Jose the wonderhorse has gone), Lyon & Benfica, and i could see us make a real fight of it against any of the top teams involved, but i think saying we are amongst the "favorites" to win it is a push. If he'd said we've got the necessary to make it a fair way in the competition, perhaps through to the last 8 or whatnot, then that sounds reasonable. What happens on the day is another matter though and, with a fully fit and comitted squad, i think we have enough of a threat to wipe any complacency from even Barca, Real & Utd's megastars.