Manchester City ‘different to anything on this planet’ says Michael Owen, backs Pep Guardiola’s side for treble

Manchester City are “different to anything on this planet” says Michael Owen, as he backed Pep Guardiola’s side to win the treble after their hammering of Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

City sparkled against the 14-time winners of the tournament, going 2-0 up by half-time and doubling their tally in the second half in front of a raucous Etihad crowd.

Speaking on BT Sport, Owen said: “Manchester City are totally different class to anything on this planet at the moment.

“They absolutely ripped Real Madrid apart. That first-half performance was as good as I can remember.

“They killed them straightaway, broke their hearts and the game was all over at half-time. Very professional in the second half, damage was already done.

“That was sensational, they have been sensational for the last couple of months.

“Everybody’s fit in their squad, everybody’s playing at the top level. They’ve got a manager that’s an absolute genius.

“I cannot see them do anything other than winning all three trophies.”

Alongside Owen on BT Sport reacting to City’s momentous night was Rio Ferdinand, who revealed he had been in touch with Guardiola before the encounter.

“Pep Guardiola texted me before the game,” Ferdinand began.

“I said ‘good luck’. And he said ‘listen, believe me. We beat them two years ago, we’ll beat them again’.

“I said ‘I believe you, I want to hope you do it’.

“The conviction, the confidence – that was like two or three hours before the game – he’s sending me a text like that.

“That is pure confidence in the detail that he’s gone through leading up to this game, and the confidence he’s got in those players.”