Gabriel Agbonlahor has predicted Chelsea to edge Manchester City and Manchester United to the Premier League title this season.
In his column for talkSPORT, Gabriel Agbonlahor has offered his prediction for the Premier League title this season. The former Aston Villa striker believes the race for the championship will be between Chelsea and Manchester City while giving a damning response to Manchester United’s title hopes.
The chaotic summer transfer season that saw some high profile moves being made in the Premier League has done a lot to even up the competition reigning champions Manchester City and the other competitors like Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, resulting in four clubs being labelled as potential title contenders this season.
However, Agbonlahor, who had featured in almost 400 competitive matches for Aston Villa, believes that Cristiano Ronaldo could be the best signing of the summer, has claimed Manchester United do not yet have what it takes to lift the title.
“Then when you think their business is done, they bring in the joint-best player ever to play the game, Ronaldo. Just to attract a massive signing like that shows how Man United are trying to win trophies this season. He’ll have a huge impact on that dressing room.”
“But will it be enough to win Manchester United the Premier League title? No, I don’t think it will. I still think they are missing a key part of the jigsaw – a midfielder that can control games,” Agbonlahor added.
Agbonlahor went on to hail Chelsea and Manchester City for having much better balance in their squad, praising Jorginho, in particular. He wrote, “Jorginho controls games for Chelsea. Ilkay Gundogan does for Manchester City. That’s a big part of football, it’s not just star players. For me, it will be a straight fight between Chelsea and Manchester City for the title this season.”
The 34-year-old has praised his “good friend” Jack Grealish too, but insists that Chelsea are the favourites. “Jack offers City a different dimension and gives their squad better quality. Yes, they could’ve done with another forward but Ferran Torres has shown that he’s a striker in the making.”
“However, for me, Chelsea are the strongest team and I think they will just edge out City and become champions. They look like they can strangle teams. They look like they’ll concede the least goals this season.”
To Agbonlahor’s credit, the reigning European champions have started the season quite well, winning the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal, while securing seven points in three matches against challenging oppositions in Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Chelsea are set to face another tricky test as they restart their campaign with a home game against Agbonlahor’s former team, Aston Villa scheduled for the coming weekend.
