EnglishAccording to coach Pep Guardiola, past achievements are not important and Man City knows how to play to defeat Inter in the Champions League final.
Inter has won the European Cup/Champions League three times, with the most recent being in the 1-2009 season. At that time, the army under Jose Mourinho shocked when he defeated the number one candidate Barca with a total score of 2010-3 in the semi-finals, and then defeated Bayern 2-2 in the final thanks to a brace from Diego Milito. Inter also won both Serie A and the Italian Cup, thereby becoming the first Italian club to win the treble in one season.
Meanwhile, Guardiola helped Man City dominate the domestic league, including five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, two English Super Cups, but could not win the Champions League. Man City's best performance in this arena is the final in 2021, where they lost to Chelsea 0-1 because of Kai Havertz's only goal.
“Getting to the final is a dream. We were present, but in a different situation," Guardiola said at a press conference on June 6 before joining the team to Istanbul, Turkey. “The final depends on the specific performance in 6 minutes. History is not important, and considering history, Inter is stronger than Man City. The important thing is that Man City has to play better than the opponent for at least 90 minutes, regardless of what you did in the group stage, quarter-finals, last season, the Premier League or the FA Cup."
Guardiola in a press conference in Manchester on the afternoon of 6/6 London time, before going with Man City to Turkey to prepare for the Champions League final against Inter. Image: mancity.com
In the Champions League final in Porto, Portugal two years ago, Guardiola caused great controversy when he left both important defensive midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri out. Instead, he ranked three midfielders rich in technique and inclined to attack: Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. In addition, Guardiola also pushed Kevin De Bruyne to the top of the attack, and only launched two real strikers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus into the field when he was led.
Asked about these decisions, Guardiola replied: "It's simple. If Man City wins, I'm right, and Man City loses, so I'm wrong. I have to accept that in football. It was a tight match, Man City was better in many ways but failed. Should I do something else? Maybe, but it doesn't matter anymore."
The 52-year-old coach also pointed out the difference in mentality of Man City in the two finals. This season, the Manchester club won the English Premier League and FA Cup, full of confidence and ambition to recreate the historic treble of Man Utd in the 1998-1999 season. On the eve of the final in 2021, in addition to the absence of an audience because of Covid-19, Man City lost two matches to Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea in the English Premier League, FA Cup and some doubts appeared.
"Chelsea and Inter play five defenders together, with the same approach to the game as defense," Guardiola added about Man City's two opponents. “Chelsea also counter-attacked well to punish us. There are some similarities, but not all. Hopefully Man City can attack better. But we know exactly what it takes to beat Inter in terms of approach, with and without the ball. We have to focus and want to finish this final differently than last time."
Guardiola admits winning the Champions League will help Man City to new heights. But he also praised Inter's organization and defense, who have conceded just three goals in six Champions League knockout games this season. The Spanish coach revealed that right-back Kyle Walker had back pain, so he was absent from the training session on June 6 because he did not want to take the risk.
Hong Duy
