Man City Coach Declares: ‘Inter Milan Can Win The Champions League’ & Argentina Superstar ‘Can Win Ballon D’Or’ | OneFootball

Man City coach Pep Guardiola believes that Inter Milan are capable of winning the Champions League.

The City coach spoke in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s opening day showdown, via FCInterNews. He also said that he thinks Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez could win the Ballon D’Or.

Tomorrow, Inter and Man City face off to kick off their respective Champions League campaigns.

The two sides have already met in the final of the 2022-23 edition of the competition.

City won that match by a 1-0 scoreline. This was the first European trophy in the club’s history.

Meanwhile, Inter may have lost that match narrowly. However, they went toe-to-toe with the Premier League juggernauts, something few predicted they’d be able to.

Last season, Inter and City were naturally among the sides most favoured to win the Champions League.

Inter suffered a disappointing round of sixteen exit on penalties against Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, City also went out in a knockout tie against a team from the Spanish capital. They were eliminated on penalties by eventual winners Real Madrid at the quarterfinal stage.

Man City Coach Pep Guardiola: “Inter Milan Can Win The Champions League”

This time around, though, Inter and City are once again among the teams who will genuinely believe that they can make a deep run in the competition.

Therefore, tomorrow’s match could be an early bellwether between possible winners.

As far as whether Inter are contenders to win the trophy, Guardiola said “For me, yes they can win it.”

And the City coach also gave his thoughts on the final that his team won against Inter in 2023.

“I didn’t expect that we’d be much stronger than them, as the media had suggested before the match,” Guardiola said.

“Starting as an underdog was a dream. In Italy, you’re the masters of that.”

Guardiola continued that “I have respect for them. For what they’ve been doing for many years.”

As for tomorrow’s match, the City coach predicted that “It will be a different match from the final.”

“We’ll see if we can impose our game and have a good match.”

As far as whether he thinks Inter captain Lautaro Martinez can win the Ballon D’or, Guardiola said “Maybe. Why not.”

“But I hope a player from my team wins it,” the City coach added.

“He can certainly win it,” Guardiola said of Martinez. “He’s a sensational player.”

“How else would he be the captain of Inter and do what he’s done with Argentina, the world champions?”

And as far as facing Inter with Marcus Thuram in the team, Guardiola said that “Dzeko and Lukaku were great players.”

“But Thuram can attack the space in behind. He can partner another striker well.”

“He complements Lautaro well,” Guardiola said of Thuram. “He’s been a great signing for them.”