Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola reminded viewers during his pre-Champions League final press conference that over the course of history, Inter are ‘bigger’ than City, but claimed that he has a plan to combat the threats posed by the Nerazzurri on Saturday evening. 

Guardiola has won the competition on two previous occasions, in the years either side of Inter’s last Champions League triumph in 2010, but has not lifted the trophy with another side since his departure from Barcelona. 

Asked whether it was a dream or an obsession to go all the way with City, who have already lifted the Premier League and FA Cup trophies this season, Guardiola replied: “It’s absolutely a dream. Absolutely. 

“To achieve things you always have to have the correct portion of obsession, desire. Obsession is a positive word but it’s a dream for all of us.”

City head into the final as the bookmakers’ clear favourites, but Guardiola remains adamant that anything can happen in a one-off game and that history has favoured Inter in terms of European success. 

“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,” Guardiola said. “I saw as many Inter games to see what we have to do. 

“In 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. (What’s) Important is tomorrow at 22.00 Istanbul time we do the best performance possible.”

On the subject of Erling Haaland’s recent dip in terms of goals, Guardiola insisted that he has no worries at all about the towering Norwegian. 

“I’m not here to discuss the average for Haaland scoring goals. If you have doubts about that you are the only person. I don’t have doubts, tomorrow he will be ready to help us win the Champions League.”

The last time Guardiola featured in the final of the Champions League was in 2021, which he ultimately lost to Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea. Saturday’s game against Inter, however, is a different occasion altogether according to the Spaniard. 

“I would like to tell you the lessons but I don’t know,” he said.  “It’s a different game, two years, different players. Two seasons ago, what we planned was to try to do a good game vs Chelsea. It didn’t work, people say the decision was wrong. 

“I have a plan tomorrow, communicate the ideas. If we have success, will be good. We are ready, the players will give everything, knowing and respecting the opponents. Go for it.”

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