Champions League: Manchester City take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday. Winning the Champions League will leave the biggest mark in Man City’s and Pep Guardiola’s legacy. Whereas, the same can be said about Inter as no Italian team has been able to win the trophy since Inter won it in 2010. Former Germany and Chelsea player Michael Ballack opens up to ‘My Betting Site’ and ‘Kelbet’ about the teams, their strengths and more. Follow UEFA Champions League LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
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On both teams’ strengths
While Manchester City are approaching the match with greater odds in their favour, Inter Milan will not give up easily. Talking about both teams’ strengths, he said, “Logically, Man City are the heavy favourites. They are playing outstanding football at the moment. Many players are in absolute top form. But Inter have brutal mental players in their ranks… I saw them in the group stage against Bayern Munich, and they weren’t ready then like they are today. I didn’t think they would be in the final now.”
He added, “City have world-class players in every position. This team is well-rehearsed, the automatisms are intertwined. But Inter are well organised, they are defensively solid and they don’t concede much. They are having a great second half of the season.” He went on to say that John Stones’ is Man City’s key player. He added that Kevin de Bruyne can make a difference for Man City in this match. Whereas, Lautaro Martinez for Inter Milan has been in an “unstoppable” mode and could prove fatal.
On what it would mean if Man City won
Manchester City have been on an upward slope in the last few years. However, they are yet to win their very first Champions League. They have come close a few times, like in 2020-21 when they lost the final to Chelsea. Last season, they lost to Real Madrid in the semi-final. However, this season, they have turned it around so well that they look indestructible now. A win will be historic for Pep Guardiola as well. Ballack talked about how this could be the crowning achievement for Man City and Pep Guardiola.
He said, “For many years, the ambition of this club has been to win the Champions League. If City were to win in Istanbul, one could speak of the crowning achievement of this project and the reward for the high investments made in recent years.” He added, “Pep has been the Citizens’ coach for seven years now and he would win the top flight with a second club. There are not many coaches who have managed such a performance… In the end, you are measured by such big titles. So for him it would be a confirmation.”
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On what it would mean if Inter Milan won
Inter had a shaky start to the season. No one expected them to achieve what they have by the end of the season. However, they have still ended the season in the 3rd position in the Serie A table. They also won both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana trophies. The last time any Italian club won the Champions League was Inter in 2010. This year, all Italian clubs have done quite well in Europe. Ballack explains how this could benefit the Italy national team.
He said, “Six months ago I wouldn’t have expected Inter to be in the final today… They have improved more and more and they play successful Italian football: compact, aggressive, strong in two fights with really great strikers. Accordingly, they are very unpleasant for every opponent. Like the usual Italian teams, Inter is good at rehearsing and reading the opponent well, as well as driving them to despair defensively.”
He added, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Italian clubs have done so well this season. It’s a kind of exclamation mark that they have put there. A team like Napoli was expected to do even better, but failed to live up to its expectations. But Napoli are not used to being the favourites in the Champions League quarter-finals. I am convinced that the Italian national team will also benefit from this momentum.”
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