"What does it take to win to the Champions League?" That is the question that many club chairmen have asked of their managers over the past couple of decades, none more so than the hierarchy at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola has sought to answer that question with money and dominating possession football. The Juventus hierarchy opted for Cristiano Ronaldo and wily defensive operators in their pursuit of European glory.
Both however have come up short, with Liverpool conquering Europe last season – breaking Real Madrid's tyrannical grip on the iconic trophy. So what does it take to become the best in Europe and who are the football betting tips to claim that mantle next season? Read on to find out.
English Football
The English style of football has long been the butt of the joke for Europe's elite, with the country's trademark style often being derided for being primitive and unstructured. Yet if you make a few minor tweaks and have a German or a French coach playing that style, it suddenly becomes devastatingly effective.
Since 2014 Real Madrid and Liverpool have been the only teams to lift the Champions League trophy. What both teams have in common is their adherence to fast, frenetic, counter-attacking football – something that Klopp has described as 'heavy metal football'.
Both Klopp and Zidane have used that style to sweep away superior opposition in knock-out games. Tottenham are another team that play a similar style of football, which proved fruitful last season as the club reached the Champions League final for the first time in their history.
Match Winners
In a league campaign, the collective strength of a team will ultimately win through against individual brilliance. In the Champions League it is an altogether different story, with individuals often settling tight affairs.
During Real Madrid's era of dominance, the world lost track of the times that Cristiano Ronaldo pulled his team over the line. Similarly last season, individuals such as Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Lucas Moura fired their respective club's to victory.
Indeed, Lionel Messi's master class against Liverpool in the first-leg of last season's semi-final was almost enough to send Barcelona into their first final since 2015. The latter stages of the Champions League boil down to the finest of margins, where match winners prove the difference.
Luck
At the end of a domestic campaign, no-one can argue about the eventual champions for they have proven their quality over 38 games. In cup competitions, the margin between success and failure is often bridged by luck.
A poor refereeing decision, the tightest of VAR decisions or a goalkeeping slip have all decided blockbuster ties in recent years. We all know that luck will play a major part in next season's Champions League, but predicting who will benefit from it is the tricky part.
Who Will Win Next Season's Champions League?
Taking into account everything mentioned above, there can only really be two credible options for next year's Champions League – Real Madrid and Liverpool. The former have recruited well over the summer and will be keen to demonstrate their European pedigree once again.
The current champions have conversely kept much of their squad the same. While Premier League glory will be paramount for Liverpool, their style, playing squad and manager all combine to make them heavy favourites in Europe this season.
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