The goal for 2014-15 at Manchester United was to get back into the UEFA Champions League. After finishing seventh in the one disastrous season under David Moyes in 2013-14, getting back into Europe was the realistic ceiling. No one really expects them to win it, and one statistical projection service reflects that sentiment.
According to the Daily Mail: “The projections are uniquely data-driven using STATS‘ match analysis, and take into account recent and historic performances of each club and the result of the recent group stage draw.”
Manchester United are given a 5.1% chance to win the European Cup, but were projected an 80.5% chance to advance beyond the group stages and reach the knockout round. The Red Devils were given pretty much the same chances as Manchester City (5.8% chance of winning the entire tournament), and better odds than Arsenal (3.6%). Chelsea have the best prospects of all the English teams at 8.6%.
Barcelona are the favorite at 23.5% with Bayern Munich second (17.4%) and Real Madrid third (14.5%)
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram