No problem of public order, at least for the moment, in the pedestrian and most central area of Istanbul, the large pedestrian avenue of Istiklal, waiting for tonight's Champions League final, between Manchester City and Inter. The English fans seem to be in the majority, but also the Inter fans, coming from every region of Italy, are many. All under the surveillance of foot patrols of the police of the Turkish capital. Some of the Nerazzurri supporters also met Adriano Galliani, in town to witness the patita, and there was an exchange of jokes with the former CEO of Milan, and now of Monza. As for City supporters, some complain that there are places where alcohol is not served, and therefore no beer. A City fan was also seen selling a ticket to the match, for which he was asking for "more than a thousand euros", according to a Saudi national, who asked for the price.
Milan, Champions League: the expectation of the Nerazzurri fans in Piazza Duomo
Manchester City - Inter on the pitch at 21pm on Saturday 10 June for the Champions League final
These are the probable formations
Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ederson, Walker, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland. (18 Ortega, 33 Carson, 6 Aké, 14 Laporte, 4 Phillips, 26 Mahrez, 32 Perrone, 47 Foden, 19 Alvarez). All.: Guardiola.
Inter (3-5-2): Onana, Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco, Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez. (1 Handanovic, 21 Cordaz, 6 De Vrij, 12 Bellanova, 33 D'Ambrosio, 5 Gagliardini, 8 Gosens, 14 Asllani, 22 Mkhitaryan, 11 Correa, 90 Lukaku). All.: S.Inzaghi.
Referee the match Marciniak (Poland)
The main statements of the eve
"It's a great feeling, we don't want to stop, we want to play this final in the best way": so to the microphones of Sky Sports Simone Inzaghi on the eve of the Champions League final against Manchester City. "City favourite? It is the strongest team in the world - added the Inter coach - but we are 11 us and 11 them, we have made a fantastic journey and we are here to play our cards. It will take a lot of heart and a lot of head to stay in the game." "Manchester City are the strongest team in the world right now, but we are proud to have come this far and, with incredible concentration, we will know we have to limit mistakes, to counter such a strong opponent. Tomorrow we have a great opportunity to make history. It will be very difficult, but we will try." So Simone Inzaghi at the press conference on the eve of the Champions League final Manchester City-Inter.
In his first season at Manchester City he has already scored 52 Premier League and cup goals, five of them in a single Champions League game, against Leipzig. And on Saturday, in the final of the most prestigious continental tournament, Erling Haaland, 22, wants to finish on a high note, winning the trophy that the English club has been chasing for years. After becoming City's top scorer in a single season, surpassing Tommy Johnson's record of 38 goals, which had stood for 94 years, the Norwegian striker now has "excellent Inter" in his sights, as he himself defines it in an interview with the UEFA website. You've already won the Premier League and FA Cup, but stepping on the lawn of Istanbul's stadium "will be special. I have always dreamed of playing in the Champions League final and it will be an honour to be there. But above all there is a game to win. We had an incredible season, and we have to finish it in the best way. I know we will all give our best to win against a very good Inter. We can't wait to get on the field." In 10 appearances in the tournament he scored 12 goals, averaging 1.21 per game. A fact never seen in the history of the Champions League.
"We will face a top team, it will be a final full of difficulties." Cautious, but also confident and optimistic, Pep Guardiola warns his players about the value of Inter, next opponent in the Champions League final, on Saturday in Istanbul. "I am very grateful for what the players have done so far - the words of the Catalan coach in the media-day organized by Manchester City -, but every final is a completely different game. We will have to understand what game to play because we have so many difficulties ahead of us. It is not easy to overcome Inter's defensive system. We will have to have a great pace, but also be patient, because the more time passes, the more tension can increase." Although City appear to be clear favorites, according to the unanimity of the predictions of the English bookmakers, Guardiola has spent words of praise for Simone Inzaghi's team.
"We must be aware of our strength and our qualities": Matteo Darmian told Sky Sports on the eve of the Champions League final between Inter and Manchester City. "We arrive at a good moment on a mental and physical level - the words of the Nerazzurri midfielder - We are aware that it will be a difficult game against a tough opponent, City is the strongest team at the moment, but we have also made an important journey. We must be aware of our strength and qualities. It will not be easy, but we will give it our all. It will take an important approach, to make a careful and determined race by putting everything we have on the field".
"We have improved in many things, even mentally. We played a lot of finals. It will be a complex game but we will give it our all. We are already mentally prepared, even to suffer in a few minutes. We put our heart on the field. I am very confident." On the eve of the Champions League final against Manchester City, Hakan Çalhanoğlu charges Inter. From the words of the Turkish midfielder transpires respect but no reverential fear towards Pep Guardiola's team that starts as a favorite. "We play our game as always. Manchester City are strong but we can't wait to play our game. We want to write history after 13 years" since the last Champions League final reached by the Nerazzurri.
