Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City must embrace the role of favourites in the Champions League Final, even if he ‘cannot deny the quality’ of Inter and their superior history. ‘It’s not easy to attack their defensive system.’
It kicks off at the Ataturk Stadium on Saturday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
“I said many times you have to win Europe to stay at another level. It’s as simple as that,” confessed Guardiola in his press conference.
The Nerazzurri have kept eight clean sheets in the Champions League so far this season, more than any other club in the competition.
“It’s not easy to attack the defensive system that they use. We have to be with a lot of rhythm and be patient. They are going to do it with three, four passes and we have to do it and know the right tempo we have to play.
“We know you can get anxious and that will be a problem, but they are used to controlling all the games in Italy and we have to defend really well.”
The tag of over-riding favourites could weigh on City’s minds, particularly with expectations of completing the Treble.
“It is a final against a top team and we have to do it. We are confident, I’m so optimistic, but at the same time I cannot deny the quality of the opponent. I have never done that and especially not in the final of the Champions League,” added Guardiola.
“We are used to it being favourites. Why should it be more dangerous? Accept the role and go out there knowing the quality of the opponents. We accept what people say, no problem.”
While Inter are the underdogs in Istanbul, they have already won the Champions League on three occasions and completed the Treble in 2010.
“We’re going to try to do our best and we know the final is how you behave in that specific 95 minutes, not history. For history, they are better than us.
“It is about what you have to do to be better than the opponent in 95 minutes, it doesn’t count what you have done in the group stages or the Premier League or the FA Cup. We have to be better than them.”
While Inter have won the Champions League three times before, it remains elusive for Manchester City, who were already the favourites when losing to Chelsea in 2021.
Guardiola was asked if he sees any similarities and differences with what transpired two years ago against Thomas Tuchel’s team?
“It is not the same, but they play five in the back, Chelsea and Inter, the approach was defensive too, but of course Chelsea also had incredibly good patterns to punish us.
“It is not similar but there are some things. Hopefully we can attack a little bit better. What is important is to be there and having this opportunity you want to take it.”
Many neutrals are gathering around Inter and against Manchester City, who they see as examples of financial power trying to buy silverware, especially after they were charged with over 100 financial irregularities by the Premier League.
“When you are at this stage, not everyone around the world wants you to win. I am sure there are a lot of people in Italy who want inter and lots don’t. That’s football. People who like us for sure but the other ones it doesn’t matter if they want inter Milan. It’s not a big important issue.”