That’s it: we already know the names of the two privileged players who will animate the Champions League final on June 10 in Istanbul: Inter and Manchester City. Completely unexpected. Inter because no one gave a single penny to the Italian team before the start of the competition. Less for Inter. And City because from Madrid they gave Guardiola such a bad reputation that the coach is from home that in the end we all believe it a little bit. But the best coach in history has already won two European championship titles. And he is on the third.

We saw two fantastic duels, in one semi-final Milan-Inter, in the other City-Real Madrid. It is impossible to ask for more. In one great moment, Inter got their revenge on their fierce city rival. In 2003, they also met in the semi-finals and, despite 0-0 and 1-1 draws, Milan progressed on an away goal, despite the fact that both teams are at home in the same stadium. And in 2005, in the quarter-finals, Milan really trampled there: 2-0 and 3-0. History has changed so much…

Italy smiles, goodbye catenaccio

Over the centuries, Inter supported the Milan of Schiaffin, Liedholm and Nordhal, that of Gianni Rivera and Sormani, that of Arrigo Sacchi with Rijkaard, Van Basten and Gullit, that of Ancelotti with Cafu, Maldini, Pirlo, Kaká and Schevchenko, to many very great Milan, but he has already put him on the canvas and is squeezing his neck: it has taken him 16 victories in history. They have won the last four games without conceding goals: the final of the Italian Super Cup, the championship game for the second round and these two in the Champions League. And the latter with proven superiority. First, with a poor result, 2-0 should have been much wider, and then 1-0, which shows that the present of both is very different.

‘Real Madrid said nothing’, ‘Manchester City teaches a lesson’, ‘Catastrophe’, ‘On its knees’ and more reactions from the Spanish media

Mentally, the team of Simone Inzaghi, one of the young Italian coaches looking for clues, is in the Himalayas. When I arrived, they asked me to take Inter to the round of 16, after a long time, but we went further, says Simone. It’s not an all-star team, it’s a star team, everyone works and understands the script. Looks neat and has firepower. Instead, it creates many scoring opportunities. He leaves three men in defense (Darmian, Acerbi and Bastoni) and gathers five in the middle, all with a fairly good foothold: Dumfries, Barella, Dimarco, Mkhitarian and Calhanoglu, and above, two tanks: Dzeko and Lautaro Martínez, the latter author of the goal in the second win.

Nobody doubts me, says Carlo Ancelotti

This is a golden season for Lautaro Martínez. 5 months ago world champion, now, in January, Italian Supercup champion (goal in a 3:0 loss to Milan), Champions League finalist, could win Coppa Italia next Wednesday, has 25 goals, 10 assists and is already captain of Inter. At 25 years old. He doesn’t qualify for the Ballon d’Or podium…?

The soccer world already considers Inter a loser in the final against City, but it lasts 90 minutes, and anything can happen in one soccer match.

But Inter-Milan was the first course, a delicious entry. Jak was second, City 4 – Real Madrid 0. Dance of those who are remembered in time. Bookmakers paid 1.53 euros for every invested euro for City’s victory, and 5, 5.25 and even 5.75 euros for Merengue’s victory. It seemed crazy considering the history, greatness and mystique of Spanish painting. And above all, the potential of each player. But those who preferred 53 cents were right.

Apart from position 8, in which De Bruyne is far superior to Kroos in dynamics, goals, assists, shots and circular balls, and in position 9, in which even Benzema and Haaland are today, in the seven or eight remaining positions, it can be said that Madrid more individual than City. But Madrid likes to play Cinderella, an old woman who needs to be helped to cross the street. That others are better, So, when he wins, the epic is highlighted.

Of course, in front, along the line, was Pep Guardiola. Its mere presence equalizes and even balances the potentials. He is the greatest strategist this sport has ever seen, and his style of play is devastating, incomprehensible to opponents. He is the one for whom City pays 1.53 and Madrid 5.75. It just created favoritism. Pep is before and after in the football game.

It was Manchester City 4 – Real Madrid 0 because Courtois and Providencia are Madridistas. It could have been wider, but even this result does not correspond to the dance, the football festival, the excellence of the game, the feast for the eyes that was Manchester City. He overwhelmed Madrid with pure touch, pure quality. It was a symphony orchestra playing notes of the highest quality ever seen. Comparable only to Guardiola’s Barcelona from 2009 to 2013. After 15 minutes, the Ciudadanos team made 124 passes to Real Madrid’s 14. And possession was 79% to 21%. Wherever the ball went, there was always someone from City to catch it and play it neatly, correctly and with meaning. Always an uncovered partner and in a good location to continue advancing the maneuver. It was so devastating it was astounding. Despite the exaggerated propaganda in Spain for Camavinga, it was clear that this was one of the holes through which City would enter. A slow and unmarked wing is an invitation to attack. And the planes of the English group passed by Avenida Camavingo, especially Bernardo Silva, in a colossal moment.

For the record, none of City’s four goals in the doubleheader was by Erling Haaland. It was not necessary, everyone reached the goal and could score. Even the first two goals were thanks to the Portuguese midfielder. The way City play, goals are not sought, they are found. And City found four. El Chiringuito, Marca and AS newspapers, Cadena SER, the whole Madrid industry managed to install the idea that this Guardiola’s “el fulbito”, i.e. football with pointless little passes, without verticality, stupid football, which is boring .. but Pep’s teams achieve the most goalscorers in history. And boy, do they have fun. Velvet football that drives opponents crazy and enchants the audience.

In the end, perhaps due to fatigue and because Madrid had to be at least a little embarrassed and move forward, the average possession leveled out a bit: it was 60% to 40% for City, passes for light 618 blue and 418 for white (yesterday black ). Reaching the final of the Champions League is personal revenge for the outstanding Catalan driver, and at the same time the achievement of the pinnacle for the City project, which, since being taken over by an Emirati investment fund, represents a stepping stone towards excellence. They took a mid-table club with eleven relegations and turned it into a universal brand. They are now within reach of the top three most desired by any club in England: the Premier League (they have to win just one of the three games they lack), the FA Cup (they will play the final against United) and the Champions League. He hasn’t won anything yet, although he’s close to everything.

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