The Champions League draw dealt José Mourinho an unwelcome visit from Cristiano Ronaldo while Tottenham and Liverpool have fiendishly difficult tasks ahead to escape their respective groups. But there was better news for Manchester City as a relatively easy draw paved the way for Pep Guardiola's team to redress the club's history of underperforming in the competition.
Mourinho scarcely needed additional pressure after a dire start to the domestic season for United and he now has the impending return to Old Trafford of the club hero Ronaldo looming large on the horizon. Relations between the pair famously deteriorated while they were together at Real Madrid and scrutiny on Mourinho is already intense after United lost two of their first three Premier League games for the first time since 1992.
Juventus, meanwhile, have been buoyed by the arrival this summer of their £100m signing, who is bidding for a fourth consecutive Champions League title.
The former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel expects a tough task for his old side, who are joined in Group H by Valencia and the Swiss champions, Young Boys. “Juventus is probably the hardest team to play against in Europe right now because of the signing of Ronaldo,” he said on BT Sport. “Everyone sees them as rebuilding the whole Italian football scene again. But you want to be in a group which can produce some great matches.”
Manchester City were the main English beneficiary of the draw, landing in a group containing Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim, from which they would expect to graduate without too many problems. The reigning Premier League champions broke a number of records on their way to the title last season and Guardiola has huge ambitions of bringing a maiden Champions League trophy to the Etihad. They have typically struggled in the competition although their fortunes have improved in Europe under the Spaniard as they reached the quarter finals last season, exiting with a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Liverpool.
There were positive omens for City in being placed in Group F, which has produced 40 per cent – or six – of the last 15 Champions League winners under the current formula since 2003/04. Meanwhile, Group G, home of reigning champions Real Madrid, is the only group not to have produced a single winner in the last 15 seasons.
But if Tottenham or Liverpool are to be crowned champions they are likely to have to do it the hard way. Mauricio Pochettino’s team have a mouth watering tie with Barcelona, while PSV Eindhoven and Internazionale will also prove stern opposition in Group B.
Last year’s runners-up, Liverpool, could stake claim to the “group of death” as they are pitted against French giants Paris St Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade in Group C. Manager Jürgen Klopp was pressing the reset button. “Last season is last season,” he said. “Now we have to do it again. It will be difficult but still we want to go through. That’s the plan, so now let’s start working on it.”
Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum hosted the great and good of football for the Uefa draw and their end of season awards.Luka Modric was presented with the player of the year accolade in recognition of his role propelling Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title and inspiring Croatia to the World Cup final.
David Beckham joined an illustrious group including Bobby Robson, Bobby Charlton, Eusebio and Johan Cruyff by winning the president’s award, clapped by wife Victoria in the audience.
Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos was awarded defender of the year, giving a mischievous tap on the shoulder to Mohamed Salah as he exited the stage to take his seat in the auditorium. Salah appeared not to acknowledge Ramos, possibly revealing lingering ill feeling after suffering a dislocated shoulder under a heavy challenge by the Spaniard, which hindered his involvement for Egypt at the World Cup, in last season’s final. – Guardian service
Group A
Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund
Monaco
Club Brugge
Group B
Barcelona
Tottenham Hotspur
PSV Eindhoven
Inter Milan
Group C
Paris Saint-Germain
Napoli
Liverpool
Red Star Belgrade
Group D
Lokomotiv Moscow
FC Porto
Schalke
Galatasaray
Group E
Bayern Munich
Benfica
Ajax
AEK Athens
Group F
Manchester City
Shakhtar Donetsk
Lyon
Hoffenheim
Group G
Real Madrid
Roma
CSKA Moscow
Viktoria Plzen
Group H
Juventus
Manchester United
Valencia
Young Boys Bern
