Fabio Capello has expressed a different view from Rio Ferdinand regarding Arsenal’s prospects against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.
Arsenal reached the last four with an emphatic 5-1 aggregate win over 15-time champions Real Madrid. PSG, on the other hand, secured their place by overcoming Aston Villa in a tense second leg, having previously knocked out Liverpool.
Many, including Ferdinand, view PSG as favourites to win the tournament, with the former Manchester United defender predicting a PSG vs Inter Milan final. Inter will face Barcelona after eliminating Bayern Munich. Fellow TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves also backs PSG but expects Barcelona to progress from the other semi-final.
However, ex-England manager Capello believes Arsenal have what it takes to beat the French champions and reach their first final since 2006.
“Arsenal have everything,” Capello told Paris Fans. “They’ve got quality, balance, and great physical condition—just like PSG. Both sides are strong, but I think Arsenal have a slight edge in terms of quality and physical strength. Their team spirit and intensity are exceptional.
“They play with unity and high tempo. If I had to put money on it, I’d go with Arsenal. Aside from Man City, I haven’t seen an English side play this well. They combine traditional English intensity with technical class.”
With second place in the Premier League nearly wrapped up, Mikel Arteta can concentrate fully on the semi-finals, starting with the home leg on April 29 and the return fixture in Paris on May 7.
There is concern over Bukayo Saka’s fitness after he was on the end of a heavy challenge in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Ipswich Town. He was substituted early in the second half and later seen with an ice pack on his ankle. While he limped off, Arteta remains optimistic that the winger—recently back from a long injury absence—will be fit in time to face PSG.
Leave a Reply