While Erling Haaland is feeling the weight of expectations ahead of Saturday바카라™s Champions League final, Lautaro Martinez is aiming to complete a spectacular double, six months after winning the World Cup with Argentina.
They are the players who could make the difference when Manchester City faces Inter Milan at Istanbul바카라™s Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium.
바카라śOf course I feel pressure,바카라ť said Haaland, the prolific City striker. 바카라śI would lie if I said I didn바카라™t. You say it yourself and it바카라™s true 바카라” they (City) won the Premier League without me, they won every trophy without me. So I바카라™m here to try to do a thing that the club has never done before and I바카라™ll do my best.바카라ť
Haaland바카라™s 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 Inter바카라™s 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.
바카라śI think these are the two major finals a footballer can play. The only thing that changes is the shirt,바카라ť he said Friday. 바카라śYou know you바카라™ve made it to the very end thanks to all the work you바카라™ve done and how hard you바카라™ve worked throughout the year. If you want to really achieve that goal, the very last step you must be ready to take.바카라ť
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.
바카라śI do feel responsibility. I have been at Inter for five years. We are all ready for the final,바카라ť he added. 바카라śYou have got to have the will to win and lift that trophy. We바카라™ve 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.바카라ť
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 England바카라™s top division.
He became the fastest and youngest player to reach 30 Champions League goals and equaled Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano바카라™s 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 United바카라™s achievement in 1999.
바카라śIf you바카라™d said this scenario before the season I wouldn바카라™t think of it,바카라ť Haaland said. 바카라śBut, again, when you look at the team, how close they바카라™ve been with every single trophy every single season it바카라™s not like it바카라™s been not possible.
바카라śWe have been believing in ourselves ever since I came here. Just one game left, I don바카라™t know what more to say.바카라ť
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.
바카라śWe are certainly hoping to take the trophy back to Milan,바카라ť Martinez said. 바카라śIn 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.바카라ť
Inter바카라™s coach Simone Inzaghi accepts City goes into the match as the favorite, describing it as 바카라śprobably the best team in the world.바카라ť
But the message to his players is that they are worthy finalists.
바카라śWe know it바카라™s going to be a huge opportunity to write a page of Inter history,바카라ť he said. 바카라śWe 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.바카라ť
City is trying to do likewise, with the Champions League the one trophy that has been out of reach as Pep Guardiola바카라™s 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 year바카라™s final, but conceded two goals in stoppage time against Real Madrid before going out through extra time.
This year, City바카라™s route to Istanbul has been serene, despite being drawn against Bayern Munich and Madrid in the knockout rounds.
Two of Europe바카라™s giants were swept aside in ruthless fashion, with Madrid beaten 4-0 in the second leg of the semifinals at Etihad Stadium.
바카라śYou can see the character of a team when you arrive to these stages,바카라ť said City defender Ruben Dias. 바카라śYou can see whether a team wants to move forward or starts hiding... we바카라™ve been showing up every time and tomorrow will be no different. It바카라™s another time for all of us to step up to the occasion.바카라ť
