On the eve of Manchester City’s match against Inter Milan, Pep Guardiola shared his thoughts in a press conference, with the Spanish coach having plenty to say about his teams Italian opponents.
Regarding the new Champions League format, Guardiola stated, “We need to win the first game and then the ones after, and we’ll see what happens. We must start well at home and try to begin the season on the right foot.”
When asked about Inter, he said, “I rewatched that game yesterday for the first time. They were already an excellent team and still are. They’ve kept the same coach, and in Italy, they’ve been exceptional – they’re the strongest in Italy. Simone Inzaghi is an excellent coach.”
Reflecting on the Istanbul final, Guardiola commented, “It was a beautiful evening, a tough match. We played the second half better than the first. The goal came from our fans’ side, and it was beautiful. Inter has won several Champions Leagues; for us, it was the first, and it was wonderful. Now they’re even stronger, and people will see that tomorrow, but tomorrow’s match isn’t a final.”
Discussing strategy, he explained, “My players need to know what needs to be done. We must organize our defense because their way of attacking is difficult to control. It’s the first game; we need to be tactically present regarding our objectives.”
Guardiola praised Erling Haaland, saying, “He’s a fantastic player. I believe he’ll keep improving as he plays more games. He’ll do it naturally. I played professionally and probably scored 16 goals in total; he’s scored 9 in 4 games now. There’s not much to say. He’s doing well, he feels good here.”
On Inter’s strengths, Guardiola elaborated, “They’re a historic team with an incredible mentality. They’re used to winning and are also capable of suffering. They’re physically strong and have excellent individual qualities in building play from the back. Calhanoglu, Acerbi, especially Barella. It’s a complete team that can win the Italian championship.”
When asked if Lautaro Martinez could win the Ballon d’Or, Guardiola responded, “Yes, it’s possible. But I hope a player from our team can win it. He’s an extraordinary striker, knows how to score, can do many things. He’s Inter’s captain and plays for the world champion Argentina. You have to be a special player to do certain things.”
Finally, on Marcus Thuram, Guardiola observed, “He goes into space a bit more compared to Dzeko and Lukaku. He’s very strong and has formed a beautiful partnership with Lautaro. He also plays as a pivot; they make very clear and well-executed movements. He’s a great acquisition.”
