Pep Guardiola surprises everyone: “I saw the Istanbul final for the first time yesterday”. Anyone who knew him even for five minutes assures that he is not telling the truth. The coach of ManCity he compliments his next opponent, as usual: “He can win the Champions League – he assures in a press conference – Lautaro is a special player, worthy of the Ballon d’Or. And Thuram was a great purchase”. His creation, twelve points in four Premier League games led by Erling Haaland who scored nine goals, is flying to the appointment with the new Champions League, which City plays to win. And he worries Rodri a little: “We players are almost at breaking point – says the Spanish midfielder of the amount of play – I think it also has an impact on the quality of football, when I have the chance to rest I play better”.
Simone Inzaghi a centre-forward who scores so much, at least for now, there is no such thing. But “Lautaro for me will always be a solution and never a coincidence – assures the Inter coach in a press conference – tomorrow we know that City is one of the strongest teams in Europe, that we face them away, but we play to win. I don’t want excuses”. And not even rematches: the Nerazzurri coach, in his statements, also clarified that he does not consider such a match that is only a match of the new phase with a single ranking. Nothing comparable to a final, which somehow echoes: “I saw it again a week later and then a month ago, by chance. I met Guardiola three times and I had a good time twice, in Istanbul a little less. He is an inspiration”.
The latest training news. Guardiola has only Bobb out, who is certainly not a starter for City. Dias, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Rodri should return to the starting eleven. Inzaghi could surprise: he has to do without Dimarco and will confirm Carlos Augusto on the left, while Barella and Calhanoglu will return to midfield. In place of Mkhitaryan, however, Zielinski’s odds are rising: Darmian/Dumfries ballot on the right. Lautaro could stop in attack, at least from the start. Taremi is a candidate for a starting shirt, paired with Thuram.