Legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi analysed and predicted the upcoming Champions League final between Inter and Manchester City, explaining why Simone Inzaghi’s side cannot be counted out.
The Nerazzurri were not expected to reach the biggest game in the European club football calendar this season, but an impressive and mature campaign from Inzaghi’s squad took them to dreamland – Istanbul, where they’ll face Pep Guardiola’s ever-dominant side on June 10.
Inter are the obvious underdogs heading into the Champions League final, with their squad’s estimated market value of around €530m being around half of Manchester City’s €1 billion team, but will still be dreaming of lifting the trophy, something they last did in the 2009-2010 season.
The Nerazzurri will be hoping to overcome the odds in Istanbul and will be thinking back to their games against Barcelona in the group stage, but they’ll have a tall task cut out for them, considering Manchester City’s utter dominance in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi analysed the upcoming Champions League final, discussing how Inter could upset Manchester City in Istanbul.
“Which final will it be between Manchester City and Inter? English heavy favourites? How can Inzaghi’s boys stop Guardiola’s orchestra? All questions that, after the Citizens’ overwhelming victory over Real Madrid, have become something of a refrain in the talk of the fans. Guessing the future is impossible, but one can at least predict it.
“I must admit that City really impressed me: they besieged Real, they overwhelmed them, they didn’t let them breathe with a suffocating and very high press, they played at a crazy pace and with an intensity and speed rarely seen. Guardiola’s boys were everywhere. Continuous, and always well-synchronised movements, very clear ideas, great spirit of sacrifice and a game plan that truly resembled a musical score.
“A performance of the highest level. Inter can hope that City won’t face the challenge at such a frantic pace, that they won’t move without the ball as they did against Real, that they won’t attack the spaces, but I imagine that Guardiola will try to repeat the same plan because he will want to give a precise and decisive imprint to the match.
“Today the English can attack on the right, on the left, with a low ball (De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva) and with a high ball (Haaland). And even in the defensive phase they are alert and do not concede much to the opponents. When it comes to making substitutions, Guardiola has the likes of Foden, Mahrez and Julian Alvarez at his disposal.
“However, Inter are not starting out beaten. Far from it. I would add a detail: if a few months ago, for what they were showing in the league, Inter had little chance of saving their skin, now instead they have opportunities and I do not think only a few. This growth, in which Inzaghi’s merits must be acknowledged, led the Nerazzurri to eliminate first Benfica and then Milan. And always with full merit.
“And in front of a team that wins with merit, you always have to take your hat off to them. Inter arrive at the Istanbul final in top condition. I’m talking about athletic condition, but also psychological. The Nerazzurri have a large and competitive squad, the players are experienced and have excellent technical values. In short, we are talking about a great team. If City have great spare parts, Inter are no joke either: Brozovic and Lukaku have not started in the last two matches.
“I think I am not mistaken if I say that it will be a good game and that the result is by no means written, despite the fact that many people still have City’s stupendous performance in their eyes. Objectively speaking, the four goals they scored against Real can frighten anyone, but I am convinced that Inter will not let themselves be held back by fear. They have a duty to chase a dream.
“Looking at it from a tactical point of view, the challenge in Istanbul will see City propose the usual patterns of play, while Inter will try to go back with all their men to protect themselves and then break on the counter-attack.
“If Inzaghi’s team have a flaw, it is in the total lack of pressing. It is for this reason that the Nerazzurri, while falling back, will not have to be suffocated by their opponents. Every attack suffered must be matched by a counter-attack, so as to keep City on their toes. In the counters Inter are very skilful.
“So: steal the ball and immediately rush vertically to find the English defence badly positioned. I expect to see a team that plays collectively, the doubling of marking must be punctual and precise, we need compactness between the departments to not allow spaces to the enemy.
“Inter can do it above all if they have in their heads the three fundamental qualities that are needed to achieve success: high motivation, great team spirit and a game up to the situation that, like an invisible thread, always keeps the players tied and never makes them feel alone. In this way you can produce spectacle, you can be innovative, and you can give people entertainment.”https://twitter.com/Gazzetta_it/status/1659459141256073218