Fabio Capello, Alessandro Costacurta and Giorgio Chiellini had advice for Inter ahead of the Champions League Final against Manchester City, as well as urging Carlo Ancelotti to take the Brazil job.
The Nerazzurri secured their spot in the Final by beating city rivals Milan 3-0 on aggregate and this evening Manchester City simply demolished Real Madrid 4-0, to secure a 5-1 aggregate triumph.
They will face off in Istanbul for the trophy on June 10 and this performance will have struck fear into the hearts of most opponents.
Former Milan, Real Madrid and England coach Capello saw this as a wake-up call for Ancelotti, who this evening set a new record for games in the Champions League.
“Losing a semi-final 4-0 is a very heavy result. Perhaps Carlo might be thinking tonight that it’s time to consider that offer from Brazil. There are stronger teams out there than Real Madrid right now and he might want to try to win the World Cup. I think he should accept it.
“This is the second time that Guardiola has gone into a Champions League Final with City and this time he seems the massive favourite. They run hard, are compact, solid and the quality is immense. Where do you find a weak point in this team? There isn’t one.”
However, Milan legend Costacurta did not agree with his old coach and suggested Inter have some reasons to be hopeful.
“I think City do have one weakness, and that is a counter-attack with pace can hurt them. I think they are the strongest team in Europe, but I have played quite a few Finals and lost some of them as favourites too, so I know it can happen.”
Chiellini acknowledged the counter-attack could do damage to Manchester City and that being overwhelming favourites is not necessarily a good position to be in, especially as the club has never won the Champions League before, losing the only Final to Chelsea in 2021.
“Seeing this evening’s performance, it is hard to find a weakness. The first half was a football spectacle and if they play like this, then there is no chance,” said the ex-Juventus defender.
“However, I hope they will feel the tension going into the Final, that after years of the club pumping billions into the team to achieve this trophy, they feel on the night the ball is a little heavier, moves more slowly and the tension gets to them.
“If they play with the confidence shown tonight, there’s no hope for anyone. Going into this Final against Inter, they really do have no excuse not to win it.”
Chiellini could only advise Pep on how to lose Champ league finals.