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Mark it in your calendar- June 10, 2023, is the date Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, will aim to lead his team to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy this season.
Guardiola’s side will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey.
Man City had eliminated Real Madrid from the semi-final stage, while Inter Milan knocked AC Milan out of the competition.
Both clubs have never played each other in a competitive game, but Guardiola does have some experience facing the Italian team in the past.
Guardiola, who had won the Champions League in the past (2009 and 2011) when he was the manager of Barcelona, had experience facing Inter Milan in the Champions League during his time at the Catalan club.
All four of Guardiola’s past encounters with Inter Milan came during his Barcelona side’s 2009-2010 Champions League campaign, at a time when both clubs were among the most powerful forces in Europe.
The Spaniard had led Barcelona to defeat Inter Milan in the Champions League and also lost again against the Serie A giants in the past.
However, Inter Milan, under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, famously defeated Guardiola’s Barcelona side in the 2010 Champions League semi-finals before the Nerazzurri conquered Bayern Munich in the final.
But Guardiola recently admitted that facing an Italian team in the Champions League final is no “gift” to Man City after his side booked a date with Inter Milan in Turkey.
Despite being the overwhelming favourites to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time in Man City’s history, the 52-year-old coach admitted at his post-match press conference after his team eliminated Real Madrid in the semi-final encounter: “A final against an Italian team is not the best gift, honestly.”
Guardiola’s men have got to score past Inter Milan to beat them and avoid the lottery of penalties, but Simone Inzaghi’s side have kept clean sheets in 8 of their last 12 Champions League games.
Many will fancy Man City to go one step further than their defeat to Premier League rivals Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, with Guardiola vociferous about his team’s performance against Real Madrid.
“We have seen what we did to Bayern Munich, Leipzig and tonight here [against Real Madrid]. It is unbelievable,” Guardiola said after Man City thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League semi-final second-leg tie at the Etihad Stadium.
Since leaving Barcelona over a decade, Guardiola has never been able to win the Champions League again despite managing Bayern Munich in the past and now Manchester City so far.
DAILY POST reports it remains to be seen when Guardiola, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest managers of all time as judged by the success he has achieved at every stop in his managerial career, might finally break his 11-year Champions League jinx.
Guardiola has reached the Champions League final on three occasions in the past – twice with his Barcelona side when he lifted the trophy and once with Manchester City in 2021.
When asked to give his thoughts about Guardiola after the Spaniard led his team to the Champions League final, Engr. Audu Ojo, the head coach of Dawaki Rangers, told DAILY POST that the Man City boss is one of the best managers in football.
He also congratulated him for reaching the Champions League final and praised him for the excellent game plan he adopted against Madrid.
“First and foremost, let me say congratulations to Guardiola for reaching the Champions League final.
“He showed that he was one of the best managers in the world when he led Man City to beat Real Madrid 4-0. His game plan against Madrid was excellent,” Ojo told DAILY POST.
Asked if Guardiola can finally break his 11-year Champions League jinx and to give his prediction for the Champions League final between the two teams, Ojo added, “I believe Guardiola had experience against Italian teams when he was the manager of Barcelona.
“However, this current Inter Milan side are formidable as they boost the likes of [Lautauro] Martinez [Romelu] Lukaku and [Edin] Dzeko, who can upset any defence.
“I believe if Guardiola can improve on his game plan against Madrid when Man City face Inter, he might just finally win his first Champions League trophy with City.
“But Inter will not make it easy for him as they will give them a run for their money. I think the match will be a close game with City having a little edge over Inter.”
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