Realistically? No, we can't. It's possible to have the same luck as Real Madrid in 2015-16: Stay away from the two Spanish teams, Bayern Munich and City (since Pep seems to have Jose's number when their sides clash head to head) and then start the final with an early goal, defend and be second best throughout the game, survive a missed penalty by our opponents and, finally, win the shootout. But that's not being realistic, neither is pointing at Chelsea's success in 2012. That's crossing your fingers and hoping that your luck will carry you all the way until the end. "Realistic" contenders were RM in the following season when they looked like the best team in the competition from start to finish.
My guess is that it'll be even tougher this season since the "usual suspects" will be able to put all their focus and energy on the CL. Barcelona and Bayern Munich have already won their respective leagues while Real Madrid can concentrate solely in retaining their CL trophy and despite their bad league form, i still believe that it's laughable to suggest that they will miss out on top-four. We, on the other hand, alongside Chelsea & Liverpool must keep an eye on Spurs and Arsenal (more likely Spurs tbh) because they are sides that can string a series of wins together and possibly push one of United, Liverpool or Chelsea out of the top four. Furthermore, the two out of three clubs in the second tier of favourites to win the big one, PSG and City, have already the domestic titles in their countries in their pockets.
We're yet to see what kind of impact Sanchez will have on this United side. But i generally agree with those who are suggesting that the amount of chances we concede as a team is relatively high when compared with the number of chances we create. We're doing much better than in the previous post-Fergie seasons but there is still some distance to be covered. It's true that Barcelona and PSG have shaky defences but their attacking plays are far more developed than ours. I mean, Barcelona won at the Bernabeu easily without even shifting from third gear... And now that Suarez is finding his form again, they look a far more dangerous proposition than earlier in the season. Our only win against a top-six opponent in England under Mourinho has come at the Emirates with Arsenal having close to 40 attempts. I don't think we can survive like that in Munich, Madrid, Barcelona or even Paris. I don't think we'll be able to stay alive in the tie with performances like the one at Anfield since the biggest sides in Europe don't consist mostly of pace merchants like Klopp's side does and we'll need something more than simply closing down the spaces in our half for 180 minutes.
And one last thing, those whose most recent memory of Sevilla is the 5-0 battering from RM or the games against the scousers, will be in for a surprise because Sevilla look to be in very good form lately.
