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Manchester City logo
Champions League | Final
Jun 10, 2023 at 8pm UK
Etihad Stadium
Inter logo

Man City
1 - 0
Inter Milan

Rodri (68')
Ederson (90+4'), Braut Haaland (90+2')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Barella (59'), Lukaku (83'), Onana (90+2'), Inzaghi (90+6')

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City are "ready" to win Champions League

Guardiola insists Man City are
© Reuters
Pep Guardiola is confident that his Manchester City players will give "absolutely everything" to end the club's long wait to win their first-ever Champions League trophy in Saturday's final against Inter Milan.

Pep Guardiola is confident that his Manchester City players will give "absolutely everything" to end the club's long wait to win their first-ever Champions League trophy in Saturday's final against Inter Milan.

The Citizens are on the cusp of greatness as they are seeking to become the first English club since rivals Manchester United in 1999 to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.

Guardiola's side are yet to taste defeat in this season's Champions League as they have enjoyed a 12-game unbeaten run, including comprehensive knockout triumphs over RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid en route to the showpiece event in Istanbul.

Standing in their way of Champions League glory are 2010 winners Inter, who beat city rivals AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals before winning the Coppa Italia final 2-1 against Fiorentina at the end of last month.

Guardiola has dismissed suggestions that Man City's 2021 final loss to Chelsea will have any impact on Saturday's performance and has insisted that his players will be "ready" to end the club's long wait for European silverware.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after the match on May 24, 2023© Reuters

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: "I would like to tell you the lessons (of 2021) but I don't know. It's a different game, a different time, different players. What we had in mind was success and to play a good game against Chelsea but it didn't work. That is why all the people said it went wrong.

"Tomorrow we will be the same. We will have a plan, an idea and communicate that to the players. If it goes well, the day will be good. If it goes wrong, the day will be bad. We are ready. I have a feeling we are ready and the players will give absolutely everything. Go for it.

"It's important when you play a final to have stability in what you have to do. But in finals there are moments that can become crazy. In those moments there are no tactics and it is just desire.

"It depends on the game and what is going on. But you have to be stable in finals. Defend well, attack and have control. You have to be patient. The most important thing is thinking it is 0-0 and we are not losing. Italian teams at 0-0 can think they are winning but they are not."

Guardiola, who last lifted the Champions League with Barcelona back in 2011, added: "It is absolutely a dream (to win it again). To achieve things, you always have to have the correct portion of obsession to desire to win. Obsession is a positive word. It is a dream to do it.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after winning the FA Cup on June 3, 2023© Reuters

"We know how important the competition is. I don't control what the people have an opinion about, just focus on what we have to do. I saw as many Inter games to see what we have to do.

"At the end it's a football game. The team who perform better over 95 minutes will win. Over history, Inter are bigger than us. It's not important. Important is tomorrow at 10pm Istanbul time we do the best performance as possible.

Guardiola has also discussed the threats that Inter possess ahead of the final and has talked up goalkeeper Andre Onana and defender Alessandro Bastoni as two key players to Simone Inzaghi's philosophy.

"The way they play, high pressing, Onana is a great goalkeeper, the processes, Bastoni on the left side. The quality to link with the strikers, the ability for an extra pass," said the Catalan boss.

"We have to try to defend, I don't know how, but defend these connections. With the ball, try to attack. Difficult against five at the back, we try to find a solution to be more effective to find a solution."

Man City have won six, drawn six and lost four of their previous 16 meetings with Italian teams, but they have never faced Inter in a competitive fixture before.

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How you voted: Man City vs Inter Milan

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Draw
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Inter Milan
19.2%
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Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella celebrates scoring their first goal with Lautaro Martinez on April 11, 2023
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