While Erling Haaland is feeling the weight of expectations ahead of Saturday바카라s Champions League final, Lautaro Martinez is aiming to complete a spectacular double, six months after winning the World Cup with Argentina. (More Football News)
While Erling Haaland is feeling the weight of expectations ahead of Saturday바카라s Champions League final, Lautaro Martinez is aiming to complete a spectacular double, six months after winning the World Cup with Argentina.
While Erling Haaland is feeling the weight of expectations ahead of Saturday바카라s Champions League final, Lautaro Martinez is aiming to complete a spectacular double, six months after winning the World Cup with Argentina. (More Football News)
They are the players who could make the difference when Manchester City faces Inter Milan at Istanbul바카라s Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium.
바카라Of course I feel pressure,바카라 said Haaland, the prolific City striker. 바카라I would lie if I said I didn바카라t. You say it yourself and it바카라s true 바카라 they (City) won the Premier League without me, they won every trophy without me. So I바카라m here to try to do a thing that the club has never done before and I바카라ll do my best.바카라
Haaland바카라s frank admission is a measure of what is at stake in European club football's biggest game.
He has appeared to have ice in his veins in his first season at City in which he has scored 52 goals, won two trophies and is now on the brink of leading the club to its first Champions League title.
The prospect of conquering Europe, however, has been playing on his mind as the final approaches.
Martinez may not be as celebrated as Haaland, but he is one of Inter바카라s few stars in a team that features a number of veteran players and is an unlikely finalist.
The Italian club is in its first final since winning the competition in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, having done little in the Champions League in the intervening years.
In Martinez, it has a player who lifted football's biggest prize when Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar in December.
바카라I think these are the two major finals a footballer can play. The only thing that changes is the shirt,바카라 he said Friday. 바카라You know you바카라ve made it to the very end thanks to all the work you바카라ve done and how hard you바카라ve worked throughout the year. If you want to really achieve that goal, the very last step you must be ready to take.바카라
Should Inter upset the odds and win the Champions League, Martinez would emulate another Argentine striker, Diego Militao, who was part of that team from 2010.
바카라I do feel responsibility. I have been at Inter for five years. We are all ready for the final,바카라 he added. 바카라You have got to have the will to win and lift that trophy. We바카라ve brought that spirit that has been missing for a while. We have the opportunity to win a trophy that has been missing for several years.바카라
Haaland represents the biggest threat to Inter after establishing himself as probably the most lethal striker in the world this season.
His 36 Premier League goals have set a new benchmark in England바카라s top division.
He became the fastest and youngest player to reach 30 Champions League goals and equaled Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano바카라s feat of scoring five times in one match in the competition.
Then there have been the trophies 바카라 winning the league title and FA Cup to leave City one game away from a treble that would emulate Manchester United바카라s achievement in 1999.
바카라If you바카라d said this scenario before the season I wouldn바카라t think of it,바카라 Haaland said. 바카라But, again, when you look at the team, how close they바카라ve been with every single trophy every single season it바카라s not like it바카라s been not possible.
바카라We have been believing in ourselves ever since I came here. Just one game left, I don바카라t know what more to say.바카라
Inter may be the underdog, but it is looking to win its fourth European Cup.
It has also tasted very recent success having won the Italian league in 2021, back-to-back Italian Cups in 2022 and 2023, and the Italian Super Cup this season.
바카라We are certainly hoping to take the trophy back to Milan,바카라 Martinez said. 바카라In terms of whether it is a duty or dream, it is certainly a huge dream, but it is very difficult to fulfil. We worked so hard to get to this point and are one step away.바카라
Inter바카라s coach Simone Inzaghi accepts City goes into the match as the favorite, describing it as 바카라probably the best team in the world.바카라
But the message to his players is that they are worthy finalists.
바카라We know it바카라s going to be a huge opportunity to write a page of Inter history,바카라 he said. 바카라We know how tough it is going to be. We know we can put all our efforts together. We reached final tomorrow and together we can try to make history.바카라
City is trying to do likewise, with the Champions League the one trophy that has been out of reach as Pep Guardiola바카라s team has dominated England.
It advanced to the final in 2021, only to be shocked by a Chelsea team that it finished 19 points ahead of that season in the league.
It looked on course to reach last year바카라s final, but conceded two goals in stoppage time against Real Madrid before going out through extra time.
This year, City바카라s route to Istanbul has been serene, despite being drawn against Bayern Munich and Madrid in the knockout rounds.
Two of Europe바카라s giants were swept aside in ruthless fashion, with Madrid beaten 4-0 in the second leg of the semifinals at Etihad Stadium.
바카라You can see the character of a team when you arrive to these stages,바카라 said City defender Ruben Dias. 바카라You can see whether a team wants to move forward or starts hiding... we바카라ve been showing up every time and tomorrow will be no different. It바카라s another time for all of us to step up to the occasion.바카라