Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has named the ‘best team on the earth’ after the Champions League quarter-finals got underway.
The business end of the Champions League began on Tuesday night with Bayern Munich beating Real Madrid and Arsenal overcoming Sporting quarter-final first-leg ties.
The large European games carry on coming with struggling reigning Premier League champions Liverpool taking over Champions League holders PSG on Wednesday night, while Barcelona face La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.
Scholes has hailed PSG because the ‘best team on the earth’ ahead of those fixtures but insists it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Liverpool will beat the Champions League holders.
The previous Manchester United and England midfielder says a PSG win is the almost certainly final result, nevertheless, and claims Liverpool losing could even cost Arne Slot his job.
Slot is under immense pressure at Anfield lower than 12 months since guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title, with the Reds just fifth within the Premier League and in serious danger of failing to win any trophies.
‘Do you understand the weird thing? Liverpool could actually go and beat PSG,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘In the event that they get considered one of those special nights… Champions League… Anfield.
‘I’m telling you. It wouldn’t be the largest shock. PSG are unbelievable and I still expect them to go through nevertheless it wouldn’t shock me. It could occur but I can’t see it right away.
‘PSG are probably the best team on the earth right away. Arne Slot knows he’s in trouble and it looked just like the players had given up within the FA Cup [a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City].
‘The manager knows he’s in big trouble now, he’s not silly is he? In the event that they exit badly to PSG – and that tie could get messy – then that is perhaps the tip of it.
‘Why hassle keeping him until the tip of the season if you happen to exit of the Champions League? There will likely be questions in the event that they exit against PSG, especially if it gets messy.
‘PSG, I’ve said it a couple of times, they’re probably the best team on the earth. They will hammer teams and in the event that they try this to Liverpool it wouldn’t surprise me in the event that they sacked him.’
PSG have refuted claims they’re strong favourites to win the Champions League ahead of their quarter-final tie against Liverpool.
‘The favourite in accordance with you [the media],’ midfielder Vitinha said as PSG prepare to welcome Liverpool to the Parc des Princes.
‘The identical way you said last 12 months that Liverpool was. Even when Liverpool should not of their best form they continue to be an amazing team with great players.’
PSG boss Luis Enrique added: ‘With the teams, it’s unimaginable to have a favorite. I don’t consider it.
‘Who’re the favourites? When you remember last 12 months, everyone said it was Liverpool, and the team that qualified [for the next round] was Paris Saint-Germain. For me, there isn’t any favourite.’
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