The game on Saturday night will provide Man City with the opportunity to secure the Champions League for the first time.
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Manchester City will have a chance to end the season with an elusive treble as they prepare for their biggest game of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side will play Inter Milan in the Champions League final at Istanbul’s Olympic Ataturk Stadium on Saturday night. City have already won the Premier League and FA Cup trophies this season, hence the game on Saturday night will provide them with the opportunity to secure the Champions League for the first time.
It has been a gruelling hard season that has seen Manchester City play several matches across all competitions. In the middle of the campaign, there was also a World Cup, adding to the demands of the players. Despite the long season, City’s key architect Kevin De Bruyne is confident that they will be in their best possible shape in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. “Everybody will have enough energy for tomorrow,” De Bruyne, quoted by their club’s website, said in a pre-match press conference.
“From a physical standpoint, if you are fit you can play the whole year long. Mentally is more difficult to physically. If you are in good shape you can play every three or four days. Mentally you may need the rest, (but) I don’t see any issue for tomorrow. That kind of occasion the motivation and energy will be there for both sides. It’s basically over the seasons and you can have a drop off but no questions from my regard.”
Manchester City have never won the Champions League. They had a chance to fulfil this dream in 2021 when they reached the final of the competition. However, Pep Guardiola’s side were shocked by Chelsea 1-0 in Porto. Kevin De Bruyne was part of that losing final two years ago. Revising that contest, the Belgian midfielder spoke about the difference in preparation for that final and the current one.
“I don’t feel a lot of difference. Maybe the difference now is we had to play the FA Cup final last week. What is different to two years ago, is we had a long two weeks (in 2021). It could be good to have played that game versus United, but the way I prepare for a game I don’t want to do too much different. It’s a hectic week but I try to make it as normal as possible,” he added.
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