Man City vs Inter Milan LIVE: All the build-up and team news ahead of tonight’s Champions League final
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Host commentator
Most of the talk ahead of tonight has been around City and the potential treble, but there’s still a game to play and Inter stand in their way.
Champions League winners in 2010, they have spent some time out of Europe’s elite, really, but tonight they have the chance to storm their way right back into that conversation.
They got here with wins against Porto, Benfica and AC Milan, but face their biggest test yet tonight.
Time will tell if they’re up to the task, but with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez in their ranks they will pose a threat.
City supporters have been remembering two Leeds United fans, Chris and Kev, who were murdered in Istanbul in 2000 during a violent outbreak before a UEFA Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray.
A scarf and photograph was laid as a memorial.
‘I f***ing love you, you know that?’ Erling Haaland screamed towards Jack Grealish as he interrupted the Englishman’s interview with Sky Sports following Manchester City’s Premier League title triumph.
Host Dave Jones quickly interjected and apologised for the offensive language as the unapologetic Norwegian ran off to join his other team-mates in their celebrations.
But the small snippet after City had been crowned champions for the third successive season gave us all we needed to know about a burgeoning bromance between two of their key men.
Read more below about the relationship between Haaland and Grealish – on and off the field.
Speaking of former City players, Yaya Toure is also in Istanbul and ready to cheer on his former side.
Some say he ended on bad terms at the club, but there don’t appear to be any hard feelings on show here.
He’s actually been in the ground at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium with the City team, seemingly sharing a joke or two with Pep Guardiola.
What I’m sure he’d do to be part of tonight.
That’s quite the strike force in that third picture, by the way.
Sergio Aguero will go down as one of Manchester City’s greatest ever players and goalscorers, and he’s out in Istanbul for tonight’s final.
Now retired, the Argentinean scored over 250 goals in a ten-year spell at the Etihad and reduced Pep Guardiola to tears when he departed in 2021.
‘I’ll be in Istanbul and I wouldn’t miss this game for anything in the world,’ Aguero told Manchester City’s official website.
‘This time I’ll be one more among a sea of Manchester City fans – cheering for the team along with the rest of the crowd. I can’t wait.’
Pep Guardiola loves the Champions League.
He’s won it twice as a manager, but not since 2011 – 12 years ago.
The trophy has eluded him too since then. He failed to win it at Bayern Munich and has failed to win it at City so far, but tonight could be the night everything changes.
Oliver Holt has had a look at the Spaniard’s relationship with the competition, and argues that victory tonight would confirm his status as the world’s best manager.
Read more below.
If City manage to get the job done tonight, they will become the first English side to win the treble since local rivals Manchester United in 1999.
Premier League: tick. FA Cup: tick.
One awaits.
90 minutes separates them from history, with Pep Guardiola admitting the club’s legacy is on the line as they chase the one title that’s eluded them.
Good morning!
Welcome to the build-up of the Champions League final. It’s the big one.
Manchester City are bidding to win their first ever Champions League title this evening as they take on Inter Milan. Pep Guardiola’s side are heavy favourites, but anything can happen in a final.
We’ve got you covered for all the build-up ahead of tonight’s game in Istanbul throughout the day.
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