Rio Ferdinand Tips Dominant PSG as New Champions League Favourites
Paris Saint-Germain have powered into pole position to be crowned Europe's best, with Rio Ferdinand boldly naming them his Champions League favourites following a commanding comeback win over Aston Villa. The French giants’ recent knockout displays have sparked widespread debate on whether this season finally belongs to them, as experienced observers marvel at their ruthlessness and renewed authority on the continental stage.
The spotlight was firmly on PSG after they overturned an early deficit to claim an emphatic 3-1 first-leg victory against a spirited Aston Villa. After dispatching Liverpool so convincingly in the previous round, this latest statement win has convinced Rio Ferdinand that under Luis Enrique’s guidance, PSG are the frontrunners to conquer Europe this May. “They played with the authority of a team who’ve won this tournament many times before – but they haven’t,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports, highlighting their new-found composure and hunger.
Key to their turnaround in Paris was the dynamic display of tricky winger Désiré Doué, who equalised just four minutes after Villa’s opener with a sensational long-range strike that left Emiliano Martínez rooted, and further goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes gave the Ligue 1 outfit a commanding advantage heading into a decisive second leg at Villa Park. The Football Weekly Extra podcast lauded Doué’s spectacular goal as the standout moment in a night filled with attacking brilliance, noting that PSG’s injury-time third could prove pivotal.
This clinical edge in big moments, combined with their suffocating pressing as praised by pundits, is what Ferdinand sees as the significant evolution fueling PSG’s trophy charge. “I was as impressed by their ability to win the ball back as the goals,” he remarked. Alan Hutton, covering for TNT Sports, echoed that sentiment: “They just absolutely suffocate you… mentally and physically Villa tired, and PSG just got stronger.” Such dominance has left the Premier League challengers with a mountain to climb, despite Unai Emery’s excellent home record with Villa, unbeaten in 17 matches.
PSG’s imperious form cannot be viewed in isolation though. Elsewhere in the Champions League, Arsenal emphatically dispatched defending champions Real Madrid 3-0, making a strong case for their own resurgence fueled by Declan Rice’s superb brace of free kicks. Meanwhile, Barcelona put down Borussia Dortmund 4-0 with attacking fireworks from Raphinha and company, reaffirming their credentials as the competition’s highest scorers. Inter Milan too quietly strengthened their hand, stunning Bayern Munich away as they bid for a second final in three seasons.
Yet despite these credible contenders, Rio Ferdinand’s conviction remains unshaken. PSG’s dismantling of Liverpool over two legs and their recent show of might against Villa suggest a team finally unburdened by past near-misses—most notably their runner-up finish in 2020. The panelists widely agree that Luis Enrique’s men are showcasing a blend of flair, maturity and tactical discipline unseen before in Paris, making them the side to beat.
Looking ahead, Aston Villa will hope to defy the odds fuelled by their fervent home crowd and Emery’s European nous, but PSG enter the second leg with more than just a cushion—they have momentum and, perhaps crucially, belief. As the Champions League drama intensifies, fans are left pondering: is this finally PSG’s year to seize the elusive crown? Or will one of their historic rivals spoil the French club’s fairytale?
Have your say below—can PSG go all the way, or will another European giant rise to the occasion? Share your predictions and join the conversation!
