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If you had a guess who you would make favourites for the Champions League, would we not all say Napoli at the moment?
"But I don't think we've seen Manchester City at their best, that could be ominous, and they find ways to win.
"It's as open as it's ever been and there's not a really outstanding team where in previous seasons you could argue differently."
Smith, of the New York Times, added: "It feels like the field is a bit more open and slightly unfamiliar, and to be honest, better for it.
"Real, City and Bayern are the three established powers and looking how the field is falling will be thinking they are the three outstanding teams.