Pep Guardiola has no excuse not to win the Champions League with Manchester City given Erling Haaland’s talent, according to Fabio Capello.
Man City were Premier League champions last season but fell short again in Europe, losing to eventual winners Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
The perennial league winners are still waiting for their first taste of glory in the Champions League, which Guardiola himself has not won since 2011.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the modern game, Guardiola’s failure in Europe’s elite club competition is regularly used as a source of criticism.
And Capello – European champion as Milan manager in 1994 – now believes City must succeed this season.
New superstar striker Haaland marked his Premier League debut with two goals in the win at West Ham and Capello spotted the final piece of City’s puzzle.
“I have a favorite this year: Manchester City,” said former England manager Il Mattino. “There is no race.
“Finally they have a strong striker in Haaland. He has power and speed.
“I saw the game against West Ham and I realized that this time Guardiola has no excuse: he has to win the Champions League.
“Even if they end up telling him that he [only] won the Champions League first with [Lionel] Messi and then with Haaland.”
