Manchester City - Inter (10 June 23) [1-0]

[Stefan]

Don't laugh at me: but we are going to win this game.

If Conte's spurs and brentford can beat city there is no reason why we can't. I like everyone writing us of. Inter plays better when it's us against the world.

 

[wera]

We love to laugh at Pep's spending, but you can't deny Pep's way of playing doesn't get results done. The only thing missing nowadays is winning CL with City.

I'm glad it's us that could, maybe, stop them.

 

[Ayalon]

Arsenal are a great side...What have they won recently that makes them a great side. All they have done recently is commit a bottle job for the ages.

You have to have a quality team to get in to a position to bottle it in the first place. This wasn't a comment on those clubs' winning mentality, just teams with great players that tried to beat City at their own game and got destroyed.

 

[delaurentis]

I expect Inter to play an excellent game, It will be a game where Inter will be very close to being CL winners, but in the end suffer a heartbreaking loss. This is what I'm preparing myself for.

 

[.h.]

Whatever happens, the guys have (largely) exceeded expectations. I hope for a great game, I'd love for us to win, but I wont be upset if we lose.

 

[CafeCordoba]

We love to laugh at Pep's spending, but you can't deny Pep's way of playing doesn't get results done. The only thing missing nowadays is winning CL with City.

I'm glad it's us that could, maybe, stop them.

Of course we can't deny it. But him needing the world's most expensive team to achieve this, in my mind it decreases its value a bit. They are really playing in the league of their own when it comes to finances. He has spent so much money to test and try fitting pieces to his puzzle without much worry about the finances over the years.

 

[.h.]

Of course we can't deny it. But him needing the world's most expensive team to achieve this, in my mind it decreases its value a bit. They are really playing in the league of their own when it comes to finances. He has spent so much money to test and try fitting pieces to his puzzle without much worry about the finances over the years.

I'd agree with you and challenge the original comment. He did an amazing job at Barca, no one can take that away from him. Really got the best out of that team and made them insane. But Bayern? Meh. Man City? They've done what was broadly expected - and underperformed, for the most part, in the CL. Given the budget he has, he should have done better. Its no different, imho, to Conte winning the league. When people like Mourinho can carry Porto to a CL win, or to be honest, if Inzaghi can pill off a CL win with Inter, that's impressive stuff. Having the most expensive, highest paid squad, and building a team out of rthat deserves recognition, but its not like a 200 IQ genius coaching move. Some of the plays, etc, he has implemented are, but in the macro, its a bit meh.

 

[wera]

Did they underperform in CL? At least Pep always gets out of the group stages, some big coaches can't even do that.

 

[.h.]

Did they underperform in CL? At least Pep always gets out of the group stages, some big coaches can't even do that.

I think compared to expectations, management, etc, would have expected them to win at least one or two CLs by now. For me, at least, I'd say Pep has massively underperformed in the CL. Like, even PSG kinda has a better record lately - 19/20 and before was QF, QF, QF, R16, SF, R16, R16

at least now its improving a bit, final, SF, final

 

[Il Drago]

Pep in CL with City:

16/17: R16 - eliminated by Monaco
17/18: QF- eliminated by Liverpool
18/19: QF- eliminated by Spurs
19/20: QF- eliminated by Lyon
20/21: Final- lost to Chelsea
21/22: SF -eliminated by Real

In this period Pep has spent over 2 billions.

He has massively underperformed in CL.

 

[Suraj]

Did they underperform in CL? At least Pep always gets out of the group stages, some big coaches can't even do that.

i would it's also the way his teams lose on the biggest moment- choking against tottenham, losing to lyon, losing that final against chelsea overthinking, choking against madrid last year

 

[vex]

The way I see it, our biggest problem by far could be acerbi and darmian matchup against city attack. Good enough for the majority of the games we play during the season, but this is a whole new ballpark. I'm just picturing dambrosio who was a solid player for us in seria a and how often he got exposed and struggled against world-class opponents in cl, and I can't help but think I will see the same thing with those two on saturday.

That's why I mostly feel pessimistic about this game and praying to god I end up being wrong, although I still think we have a chance, especially if we score the first, and they get nervous and desperate.

 

[whyss]

Hi guys! I’m going to Istanbul for the final but with no ticket. Is there any official fan zone for Inter fans with a big screen to see the match? Where are we all gathering? There is a Festival at Yenikapi but it is also a transfer hub for city fans. Our transfer hub is at Besiktas but will there be something to see the match? Maybe someone has the information where all the Italian fans are going to be

 

[TheNetworkZ]

Agreed with what other's have said about Pep. His career has seen him been blessed with the best possible players at all of his jobs. He inherited the best ever Barca team, went to Bayern and failed to win them a CL, and is literally playing FM at Man City. I don't see what is so admirable about that.

The way I see it, our biggest problem by far could be acerbi and darmian matchup against city attack. Good enough for the majority of the games we play during the season, but this is a whole new ballpark. I'm just picturing dambrosio who was a solid player for us in seria a and how often he got exposed and struggled against world-class opponents in cl, and I can't help but think I will see the same thing with those two on saturday.

That's why I mostly feel pessimistic about this game and praying to god I end up being wrong, although I still think we have a chance, especially if we score the first, and they get nervous and desperate.

I'm not worried about them. Acerbi has been channeling his inner-Chiellini lately and Darmian is playing the best football of his career. We as a forum tend to underestimate the football IQs of some of our players. Acerbi and Darmian defend really well.

 

[Puma]

Agreed with what other's have said about Pep. His career has seen him been blessed with the best possible players at all of his jobs. He inherited the best ever Barca team, went to Bayern and failed to win them a CL, and is literally playing FM at Man City. I don't see what is so admirable about that.

I am in a WhatsApp thread with some mates, one of whom is the City supporter I mentioned earlier in this thread.

Over the weekend, they congratulated him on City winning two out of three trophies. I wanted to say something but kept my thoughts to myself. I do not think it is much of an achievement given their resources. Your comment about playing Football Manager is absolutely spot on.

 

[forzainter257]

I am in a WhatsApp thread with some mates, one of whom is the City supporter I mentioned earlier in this thread.

Over the weekend, they congratulated him on City winning two out of three trophies. I wanted to say something but kept my thoughts to myself. I do not think it is much of an achievement given their resources. Your comment about playing Football Manager is absolutely spot on.

They are competing in a league where 6-7 clubs have highest financial capabilities and Mancity isn't the biggest spender.

 

[PHM1605]

They are competing in a league where 6-7 clubs have highest financial capabilities and Mancity isn't the biggest spender.

They are using their budget better than those 6-7 teams. But isn't proven outside Premier League.

 

[qb4ever_2k]

They are competing in a league where 6-7 clubs have highest financial capabilities and Mancity isn't the biggest spender.

It used to be a good argument for City, but now as they are facing over 100 charges for financial violations, you can't even say this anymore.

Also, the biggest financial strength City have is that they don't care about losses at all. Other rich clubs still have to balance their books, sometimes they are forced to cut the losses prematurely. You simply become more inefficient when working under restrains. City don't care about all that, they had a very deep squad to begin with and can simply wait years until their player perform.

 

[Universe]

they are facing over 100 charges for financial violations

none of which they will be punished for

 

[qb4ever_2k]

none of which they will be punished for

Have some faith in the system, they are almost certain to get fines over $500k, some of the their executives, whom you may never heard of, will be banned from football for a couple of years too.

For such a well managed institution, these penalties are extremely harsh, they will never recover from this you kno.