June 09, (THEWILL) – Manchester City enter Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul as overwhelming favourites, aiming to secure the ultimate prize in European club football and complete a historic treble.
Since the transformative takeover of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City has been steadily building towards this moment. They have emerged as the dominant force in English football, clinching seven Premier League titles in the past 12 seasons and recently adding the FA Cup to their trophy cabinet. The club’s financial might is also unmatched, with Deloitte analysts ranking them as the highest-earning football club globally, reporting a revenue of €731 million ($788 million) last season.
While City’s success is undeniable, it is not without controversy. In February, the EPL charged the club with 115 alleged breaches of its financial rules spanning from 2009 to 2018. Moreover, City faced a two-year ban from UEFA competitions in February 2020 due to “serious financial fair-play breaches,” which was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Now, Pep Guardiola’s team has the chance to match Manchester United’s achievement in 1999 by overcoming Inter at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium and securing a treble.
Despite losing in the final last year and in the semi-finals the year before, City’s recent addition of Erling Haaland has elevated the team’s performance to new heights. The Norwegian sensation has netted an impressive 52 goals since joining from Borussia Dortmund. City’s arrival in Turkey is accompanied by a formidable record, having suffered only one defeat in their last 27 matches, a 1-0 loss against Brentford after securing the EPL title. Unbeaten in Europe this season, they have delivered decisive victories against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid in the knockout stages.
Yet, while City may appear invincible, they must not underestimate the threat posed by Inter, who progressed from their group ahead of Barcelona and triumphed over Porto, Benfica, and city rivals AC Milan in the UCL. Although they may not boast the same star-studded lineup as their opponents, Inter possesses a strong Cup pedigree, having recently retained the Coppa Italia. Edin Dzeko, the veteran forward who played for City from 2011 to 2016, has been instrumental for Inter, scoring 14 goals this season and providing support for the team’s standout striker, Lautaro Martinez.
Under the guidance of coach Simone Inzaghi, Inter possess a solid defensive line, dangerous wing-backs, and a hard-working midfield led by Nicolo Barella. While they acknowledge City’s quality, Inter remain resolute and undaunted, with Inzaghi emphasising that fear should have no place in football ahead of what promises to be a thrilling final.
The 2022/2023 UCL final will take place at the Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı in Istanbul, Turkey on Saturday, with kickoff slated for 8pm local time.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
