As the Champions League final of the 2022/23 season draws closer, all football fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between Manchester City and Inter on Turkish soil. Both teams are determined to win, but only one can claim the title. So, what strategies will Manchester City and Inter employ to emerge as the victorious team?
Manchester City's Solutions:
- Midfield Control: The best way to slow down Manchester City is through cohesive midfield coordination. Inter has the potential to achieve this with a balanced midfield and an organized defense. The trio of Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, and Hakan Calhanoglu are expected to start. Utilizing Brozovic from the beginning will require careful consideration by Inzaghi, especially in the absence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Each midfielder possesses different skills but is also capable of defensive play and sacrificing for the team's benefit. These factors are crucial in slowing down Manchester City's attacking prowess, as Guardiola has a midfield that can handle any situation with creativity. Therefore, Inter's midfield needs to ensure positional discipline, press aggressively, maintain constant pressure, and intervene when necessary to relieve the defensive line.
-
Exceptional Performance from Onana: Since it is challenging to stop Manchester City, it becomes crucial for Inter to determine their response when their defense is breached. This is where Onana needs to shine. Onana has kept eight clean sheets in the Champions League, with over 1,080 minutes played and 44 saves. He concedes less than one goal per match, with 25 of those saves coming from shots inside the penalty area, the second-highest number behind Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid.
-
Start Lukaku: The most significant decision for Inzaghi is who to start alongside Lautaro Martinez in the forward position, Lukaku or Dzeko? While both players can form a good partnership with Lautaro Martinez, each brings a different element to the game. Dzeko excels in intelligence and capitalizing on set-pieces, while Lukaku has become an indispensable part of the team, scoring crucial late goals and creating important assists. Considering Lukaku's strength and dominance, Manchester City's defense cannot afford to overlook him.
-
Tactical Discipline: Inter needs to maintain tactical discipline and focus on their defensive organization to neutralize Manchester City's attacking threat. They must prioritize closing down spaces and minimizing gaps in their defensive structure. In addition, quick and coordinated defensive transitions, along with effective pressing, will be essential to disrupt Manchester City's rhythm and limit their goal-scoring opportunities.
-
Exploit Counter-Attacking Opportunities: Inter should capitalize on their speed and agility in counter-attacking situations. By swiftly transitioning from defense to attack and utilizing the pace of their forwards, particularly Lukaku and Martinez, they can expose any spaces left behind by Manchester City's high line defense. Quick and incisive counter-attacks can catch Guardiola's side off-guard and create scoring chances.
-
Solid Defensive Performance: A resolute and disciplined defensive display will be crucial for Inter's success. The defensive line, led by players like Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij, needs to maintain a compact shape, communicate effectively, and stay organized to deny Manchester City's potent attacking threats. Additionally, the midfielders should contribute to defensive duties and provide cover for the defense when needed.
Ultimately, both Manchester City and Inter will need to execute their respective strategies flawlessly and capitalize on key moments to claim victory in the Champions League final. It will be a thrilling encounter between two top-class teams, each with their own unique strengths and tactics.