Gary Lineker backs English teams to go all the way in the Champions League
Former England captain Gary Lineker has said he hopes an English team will win the Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium in May.
With Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea having secured knock-out qualification at the top of their respective groups, Lineker said that the trio are in pole position to go all the way in the tournament, while Arsenal, who have yet
to qualify in Group H, are also in with a chance.
"No London side has ever won the Champions League, which is a remarkable statistic in itself, so maybe we can put that right with the final being in London," the former striker told reporters at the final's event design and branding launch
at Wembley. "I think we've got three stabs at it. Arsenal are not quite through yet but you'd expect they'd all get into the knockout stages which gives them a good chance."
Chelsea the English favourites
Lineker added that Chelsea stand the best chance of winning the tournament, while his former team Tottenham would do very well to progress to the final in their first Champions League campaign.
"Out of the three London clubs Chelsea are probably the most likely, once they get their big players back fit again. They've been close on a number of occasions and it could be their turn. Arsenal play great football, if they can be a little
bit more solid they'll have a chance. With Spurs, it's their first go and they've done brilliantly so far. In fact they've set the competition alight in their attitude and the way they've played. It's probably a bit too much of an ask to get to the final,
but you can always dream."
The top two teams of each group will enter the first leg of the round of 16 in February. The final will be played on 28 May.
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