Players with points to prove in the 2023/2024 Champions League

The 2023/2024 Champions League gives teams and players a new chance to deliver top performances for their respective clubs.

The competition is the best in the world in club football and brings together some of the best talents globally every season.

Some big teams failed to qualify for the competition's next edition, with Liverpool and Juventus failing to make the cut.

Some new clubs have also shocked us with qualification, with Newcastle United set to compete for the first time in two decades, while Arsenal are back after six years out.

Mikel Arteta has done an incredible job at the London club, and the Spanish gaffer is expected to lead his team well in the Champions League.

Newcastle has also turned into a results machine through Eddie Howe, who is now easily the best English manager.

The Magpies and the Gunners have spent this summer strengthening their group with some exciting players, and we expect them to do well in the Champions League.

It would be tough for both clubs to succeed, but they seem to have what it takes to become a successful English team in the competition's next edition.

The success and failure of every club in the UCL will depend on how their players perform when it begins.

In this article, we cover players who have a point to prove. These individuals are the reason fans buy Champions League tickets and will continue to do so.

Declan Rice, Arsenal

Declan Rice is now the most expensive English player of all time after Arsenal splashed the cash to add the midfielder to their squad.

For the last two seasons, Rice has been considered one of the best midfielders in Europe, and his stats do not lie.

He does not have many goals and assists to his name, like some creative players, but Rice is one of the world's best defensive or central midfielders.

The Englishman had an 88% pass completion rate last season, alongside 63 interceptions and 315 progressive carries. These stats make him the best midfielder at Arsenal now.

Rice won the Conference League for West Ham last season, and eyes would be on him to see how he performs in the Champions League.

Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid

Bellingham was one of the sought-after players in this transfer window, and the Englishman was courted by the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City back in the Premier League.

However, he chose to move to Madrid for €103 million, a huge fee for Borussia Dortmund to make from the sale of the midfielder.

Most of us already know what Bellingham can do, and this move offers him a chance to prove he is indeed one of the World's best midfielders.

At Madrid, there is serious competition for a playing spot in their midfield, but if Bellingham breaks into their first team, the Englishman could help them to win another Champions League crown next season.

Victor Osimhen, Napoli

From his time at Lille, Victor Osimhen has gradually improved, and he is now one of the top strikers in Europe.

After helping Napoli to win the last Serie A title, the Nigerian has been linked with a move to several top clubs around Europe.

However, Napoli wants 200m euros to sell him, which means he will likely remain at the Italian club for the next few seasons.

In the last Champions League, Napoli was knocked out at the quarter-final stage by AC Milan because he was injured before the first leg of the game.

In the next campaign, he must prove he is not a one-season wonder and can do well in Europe as he does in Serie A.

Christian Pulisic, AC Milan

Pulisic has secured a move to AC Milan to add to their illustrious list of star players at the San Siro club.

Milan remains in the market for some top players, but one man who must live up to expectations in the world's fashion capital is Pulisic.

The American was a boy wonder at Borussia Dortmund, but he flopped at Chelsea as injuries continued to deny him regular game time.

The Premier League side was more than happy to offload him for a good fee in this transfer window, and we now expect to see him proving his doubters wrong at Milan.

Stefano Pioli's side plays a slick attacking style of football that will suit Pulisic, so he would not have much of an excuse if he does not do well at the Italian club in the next Champions League term.

Erling Haaland, Manchester City

Haaland was the leading scorer in the Champions League last season, and his 12 goals in 11 games helped Manchester City to win the competition for the first time in their history.

The Norwegian has silenced those who thought he would not shine in England or the Champions League.

The real work begins because he has to prove he is not just a one-season phenomenon.

Manchester City has arguably the best squad in the Champions League at the moment and is never shy to add a new man to their group when the transfer window is open.

This means they will still have a strong team for the next campaign, and that should translate to more goals for Haaland.

Eyes would be on the Norwegian to ensure he can get as many goals as possible in the next Champions League.

Fans now expect him to prove he is a top player by competing for more Champions League crowns, which will make him an easy pick to win the Ballon d'Or.

Andre Onana, Manchester United

Manchester United have splashed the cash to replace David de Gea with Andre Onana as Erik Ten Hag is reunited with his former Ajax goalie.

The Cameroonian has arguably the best ball-playing ability among goalkeepers in the world and helped Inter Milan to reach the final of the last Champions League.

For several seasons, De Gea was the best player at Manchester United, but he struggled with errors and did not perform well with the ball at his feet.

Onana is expected to change all that, and United fans will dream of him helping their team reach the final of the Champions League as well.

Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United

Newcastle United showed how important they consider the Champions League by splashing €70 million to land Tonali from AC Milan.

The Italian has been described as the heir to Andrea Pirlo, which is a huge compliment, and the Magpies have truly gotten their hands on a superb talent.

Tonali was signed because Newcastle qualified for the Champions League. Howe's side shocked everyone by remaining in the top four for much of last season, denying Liverpool the chance to return to the competition.

Tonali will be their engine room, and the deep-lying playmaker knows he will hardly get another chance at a bigger club if he flops at Newcastle United.

Ilkay Gundogan, Barcelona

Signing Gundogan is one of Barcelona's finest pieces of business in the last decade.

The German was one of the most in-form players in the world towards the end of last season and was a key reason Manchester City won the treble.

Gundogan is like a fine wine that gets better with age, and he would now attempt to help Barca to win another Champions League.

After winning the last La Liga crown, the next competition the Catalans will target is the Champions League.

With Gundogan on their side, they have one more player who will make it easier for them to win the competition.

The Champions League is as unpredictable as possible, but the clubs with these players will expect them to lead their teams to success.