Frank Leboeuf names ‘favourite’ to win Champions League ahead of Arsenal vs PSG
Franck Leboeuf has made his prediction (Picture: Getty) Frank Leboeuf has named his ‘favourite’ to win the Champions League as Arsenal prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the semi-finals. Arsenal booked their place in the final four with a superb two-legged display against defending champions Real Madrid. Now into their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years, Arsenal face PSG, who have looked like one of the competition’s most dangerous sides with their youthful, attacking brand of football. Luis Enrique’s side, who have already cruised to the Ligue 1 title, survived a scare against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals to advance to their third semi-final in five seasons. In the other semi-final, Barcelona take on Inter Milan after they came through their quarter-final clashes with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Hopes of an English winner were kept alive by the Gunners’ impressive showing against Real, but former Chelsea centre-back Leboeuf believes that their semi-final opponent, PSG, remain the team to beat. ‘I would have to say that PSG are favourites because of what we have seen so far this tournament,’ Leboeuf told Metro via BetVictor. Mikel Arteta is hoping to mastermind another Champions League upset (Picture: Getty) ‘Especially given the two legs against Liverpool and the performance against Aston Villa. The only slight bit of concern was the second half of the second leg against Aston Villa but they came through that. ‘They are a complete team nowadays compared to the era of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. We see that now with Real Madrid. Having too many superstars is an issue because you can’t create a system around that. ‘With PSG this season they don’t have any stars and instead, they work together and they work their socks off according to what the coach wants. ‘Having said that, what I saw from Arsenal, especially in the second leg at the Bernabeu, showed me the strength of that team. It’s going to be a tough game with two very talented teams and I think they’ll both go for it.’ Declan Rice ‘one of the best in the world’ Declan Rice has been in fine form in the Champions League (Picture: Getty) Should Arsenal harbour any hopes of upsetting the odds and reaching their first Champions League final since 2006, the north London side will likely need another impressive showing from Declan Rice. The English midfielder was awarded man of the match in both legs of the Gunners’ quarter-final clash with Real but, despite that, Leboeuf believes the 26-year-old’s talents still go underappreciated. ‘Declan Rice needs more credit, the Frenchman added. ‘He’s one of the best midfielders in the world. Luis Enrique’s PSG side are standing in the way of Arsenal (Picture: Getty) ‘We talk a lot about Jude Bellingham for England and Real Madrid but Rice has everything to be considered one of the best right now. ‘The energy that he has, his tactical awareness on the pitch, the technique for those two free-kicks last time out (in the first leg). He has all the tools. He’d get my vote for sure.’ Rice will be without his regular midfield partner, Thomas Partey, forTuesday’s first leg after the Ghanaian picked up a costly yellow card at the Berneabau. Asked who should replace Partey in the middle of the park, Leboeuf urged Mikel Arteta to think outside the box. ‘I have an idea that Jurrien Timber could be the solution,’ he said. ‘He can play everywhere, and if Ben White is fit to come back at right-back, then Timber could play in the middle of the park. ‘When they are going forward, he plays in those areas already so it shouldn’t be a concern for Arteta. He knows what to do – he’s so mature and so clever with his game.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Frank Leboeuf has named his ‘favourite’ to win the Champions League as Arsenal prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Arsenal booked their place in the final four with a superb two-legged display against defending champions Real Madrid.
Now into their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years, Arsenal face PSG, who have looked like one of the competition’s most dangerous sides with their youthful, attacking brand of football.
Luis Enrique’s side, who have already cruised to the Ligue 1 title, survived a scare against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals to advance to their third semi-final in five seasons.
In the other semi-final, Barcelona take on Inter Milan after they came through their quarter-final clashes with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Hopes of an English winner were kept alive by the Gunners’ impressive showing against Real, but former Chelsea centre-back Leboeuf believes that their semi-final opponent, PSG, remain the team to beat.
‘I would have to say that PSG are favourites because of what we have seen so far this tournament,’ Leboeuf told Metro via BetVictor.
‘Especially given the two legs against Liverpool and the performance against Aston Villa. The only slight bit of concern was the second half of the second leg against Aston Villa but they came through that.
‘They are a complete team nowadays compared to the era of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. We see that now with Real Madrid. Having too many superstars is an issue because you can’t create a system around that.
‘With PSG this season they don’t have any stars and instead, they work together and they work their socks off according to what the coach wants.
‘Having said that, what I saw from Arsenal, especially in the second leg at the Bernabeu, showed me the strength of that team. It’s going to be a tough game with two very talented teams and I think they’ll both go for it.’
Declan Rice ‘one of the best in the world’
Should Arsenal harbour any hopes of upsetting the odds and reaching their first Champions League final since 2006, the north London side will likely need another impressive showing from Declan Rice.
The English midfielder was awarded man of the match in both legs of the Gunners’ quarter-final clash with Real but, despite that, Leboeuf believes the 26-year-old’s talents still go underappreciated.
‘Declan Rice needs more credit, the Frenchman added. ‘He’s one of the best midfielders in the world.
‘We talk a lot about Jude Bellingham for England and Real Madrid but Rice has everything to be considered one of the best right now.
‘The energy that he has, his tactical awareness on the pitch, the technique for those two free-kicks last time out (in the first leg). He has all the tools. He’d get my vote for sure.’
Rice will be without his regular midfield partner, Thomas Partey, forTuesday’s first leg after the Ghanaian picked up a costly yellow card at the Berneabau.
Asked who should replace Partey in the middle of the park, Leboeuf urged Mikel Arteta to think outside the box.
‘I have an idea that Jurrien Timber could be the solution,’ he said. ‘He can play everywhere, and if Ben White is fit to come back at right-back, then Timber could play in the middle of the park.
‘When they are going forward, he plays in those areas already so it shouldn’t be a concern for Arteta. He knows what to do – he’s so mature and so clever with his game.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
