Manchester City v Inter Milan: Who takes the Champions League Cup home?

Posted : 10 June 2023

The long-awaited Champions League Final is here!
This is no ordinary game, but a chance for a historic treble, winning all three major titles, a feat achieved only nine times in European football history. City aims to become the tenth team to accomplish this milestone.

Inter Milan, led by Jose Mourinho in 2010, is among the few clubs that have won the treble. However, they have also suffered two defeats in the final, allowing other teams to claim the coveted achievement. The general consensus suggests that City, with their dominant form, are overwhelming favorites to win.

If City fails to lift the trophy, it won't label them as losers, despite never having won the Champions League before. Instead, the spotlight will be on their coach, Pep Guardiola. Guardiola, a fascinating and influential figure in the football world, tends to attract attention regardless of the outcome, overshadowing his players.

Guardiola is one of the managers who have previously achieved the treble, with Barcelona in 2009. He won the Champions League again in 2011 but has since been unable to claim the trophy, both with Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

Although he has consistently reached the semi-finals and even the final, the absence of Champions League success with these clubs remains a blemish on his record. Critiques often point out that Guardiola has always managed teams with substantial financial backing, but it is important to acknowledge that many successful Champions League teams possess significant financial resources.

The second critique is that despite Champions League being his primary objective, he failed to win it with Bayern and City. It is now time for Guardiola to refute that claim.

The upcoming final is expected to follow a predictable pattern. City will dominate possession while Inter Milan defends deep and looks to launch swift counter-attacks. This approach is not due to fear, but rather Guardiola's deliberate game plan.

Guardiola has an advantage in midfield this season, thanks to the contributions of players like John Stones, who can operate in multiple positions. Alongside Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan, City possesses numerical superiority in midfield against Inter's three-man midfield setup. Inter coach Simona Inzaghi emphasizes individual defensive assignments in midfield, so it remains to be seen how she will adjust to City's potential midfield dominance.

Manchester City v Inter Milan: Who takes the Champions League Cup home?

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