The new bosses at both Manchester United and City will both be hoping this afternoon’s UEFA Champions League draw is kind to them for very different reasons.
After two abysmal previous campaigns in Europe’s top competition, the Blues will have their fingers crossed that they aren’t placed in another ‘group of death’.
The best possible outcome for City will would be facing Benfica, Marseille and Austria Vienna which is a group the Eastland’s side would be considerable favourites for.
On the flipside, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are seeded in pot three and could find themselves drawn with European champions Bayern Munich, French champions Paris Saint-Germain and big-spending Italians Napoli.
City had a disastrous European campaign last season, finishing bottom of their group without winning a game.
Eastland’s fans will hope their teams luck will change after drawing two of the hardest groups in their previous two appearances in the Champions League.
Manchester United, have been placed in pot one as a high seed after their continual success over the past five years, winning the trophy once and reaching two finals– which is what the seeding is based on.
What is different about this year’s continental campaign is that it is the first under new boss David Moyes, who does lack experience on Europe’s biggest stage.
A best case scenario for the Red Devils would to be drawn against Marseille, Basel and Austria Vienna which should entail an easy qualifying campaign with the Reds cruising through and gaining a first place group finish.
The worst possible outcome for the Reds would be a group consisting of Paris Saint-Germain, Dortmund and Napoli which all can cause United a lot of problems especially when the Reds are away from home.
United fans will be a little more apprehensive than usual as new manager David Moyes has no prior Champions League experience.
Even so United fans would still expect the Red Devils to qualify for the knockout rounds but Moyes will need to ensure that Old Trafford would be the fortress it was under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 32 teams are split into four seeding pots of eight, and one from each pot will be drawn into eight groups during the draw, which starts at 4.45pm.
Image courtesy of Sky Sports via YouTube, with thanks.
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