With Liverpool in pursuit of reaching a third consecutive Champions League final this season, club legend Robbie Fowler has earmarked Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid as the dark horses for the competition, and as such has warned his former club not to underestimate the quality El Cholo’s side possess.

Despite Simeone’s side continuing to age at an alarming rate over the past few years, they have sought to bring through a new generation of players with the likes of Saul Niguez and the recent arrival of Joao Felix helping to add more pace and dynamism to the squad. 

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Having reached the final twice already under Simeone, losing out both times to fierce rivals and neighbours Real Madrid, Atletico are well versed in how to navigate European football’s most coveted trophy. And with several players having lived through the heartbreak of losing in the final with the club already, there will be a much-needed impetus to finally go on and win the competition.

Fowler, writing in his column for the Sunday Mirror, recognised this and tipped Atletico for success this season.

I’m going for Atletico Madrid. In Diego Simeone they’ve got a manager who knows how to get to the final (he actually beat Pep’s Bayern in the semi in 2016). His style of play is suited to Europe, and they’ve invested a lot of money in talented players this summer.

Fowler was also quick to address the regret and subsequent motivation that Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola will be feeling ahead of the competition’s commencement on Tuesday. Guardiola set out to win the Champions League whilst at City, an honour he failed to claim in three trophy-laden years at Bayern Munich – the Spaniards wretched recent record extends all the way back to 2010-11, the last time he won the competition and for that matter the last time he even reached the final.

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‘I’m not for the life of me saying his job’s on the line. What I’m saying is the owners of Manchester brought him in to win the Champions League,’ Fowler added.

‘And he’s not looked even close to doing that so far. ‘So there’s the pressure – and it won’t necessarily come from the owners – but from Pep himself. ‘It seems incredible given the clubs he’s been at, but he hasn’t won the Champions League since 2011. That’s eight years and counting, and that will hurt.

Aside from Fowler’s assertions that City will be as hungry as ever to win a maiden Champions League trophy, the former Liverpool and City striker remains adamant that Liverpool look in good shape to reach a third consecutive final – a feat they even failed to achieve during their pomp in the 1980s.

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‘That’s where English clubs are at now. They all now have such strong squads they can finally juggle the demands of the most competitive league in Europe and the challenge of playing Europe’s best clubs,’

‘Liverpool proved that last season, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they reach a third final in three years.’

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Fowler certainly has a point about Atletico.

The La Liga outfit have recruited well and will no doubt be targeting a strong run in the Champions League this season, with Felix and co well positioned to do just that.

Will Atletico be a threat in the Champions League?

Yes

No