In numerology, 3 is a magic number. For Pythagoras 3 is a perfect number and for Aristotle “what is done 3 times is law”. All this can be carried over to the Champions League final (Saturday at 8pm, TVI and Eleven Sports) between Manchester City (maybe taking the treble) and Inter Milan, who already have three Champions Leagues and perfection and the magic of the best squad in the world.
Three is also the number of “ears” that Pep Guardiola wants to collect as a coach. The Spaniard can make triple history if he gives the first champions citizens and at that point reach the desired triplet. Three is also the number worn by Rúben Dias, one of three Portuguese – alongside Bernardo Silva and João Cancelo, who played for Bayern Munich from January – to wear the trophy at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium..
In fact, the centre-back is the most used player in this edition of UEFA’s premier competition, with 958 minutes, and was chosen to address today’s game: “It wouldn’t be a Champions League final if it were easy (.. “Clube has the merit of building a squad full of leaders. When the big moments come, we know what to do.”
After winning the Premier League and the FA Cup, City is aiming for an unprecedented treble (triple, in English). In the entire football history, only seven clubs managed to win the championship, the cup of the respective country and the Champions League: Celtic (1966-67), Ajax (1971-72), PSV (1987-88), Manchester United (1998- 99), Inter Milan (2009-10), Bayern Munich (2012-13 and 2014-15), Barcelona (2008-09 and 2019-20).
Pep Guardiola has already achieved a treble at Barça (2008-09) and wants to end his 12-year personal fast and win the third Champions League of his career, after those of 2008-09 and 2010-11 at the service of Barcelona. If he beats Inter, the Catalan will become the fourth coach to lift three “ears”, imitating the achievements of Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane. And he becomes the sixth coach to become champion in the service of two clubs. For the Catalan, the secret of success is simple: “Having had Messi and now Haaland: that’s my success… I’m kidding. We can’t do it alone. All successful coaches have a strong team and good players. A coach scored never a goal.”
With or without a magic recipe, since the Catalan signed for the Citizens in 2018, the team has reached the semi-finals four times (2015-16, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23) and the final once (2020- 2020 – 21), who lost to Chelsea at Estádio do Dragão. And if the coach is looking for the third trophy on his personal account, the club founded in 1880 has been waiting for the first for 143 years and after 1.3 billion euros in reinforcements in the Guardiola era.
Inzaghi after Mourinho?
Inter Milan has three Champions Leagues on display, the last of which was won in 2010, when Jose Mourinho’s team ended a 45-year drought. Before that, the Nerazurri had won two under Helenio Herrera (1964 and 1965). Which means Inzaghi could become the first Italian coach to lead Inter to European glory. And do it by being the executioner of two Portuguese. The Italian team eliminated FC Porto (in the round of 16) and Benfica (quarter-finals) on their way to the final, while City left Sporting behind (in the round of 16).
In the match preview, Inter’s coach threw favoritism at the opponent without fear of the weight of words and the magnitude of the achievement he could achieve. “We know we have a golden opportunity to write a golden page in the history of football. We know it will be very difficult, but together, now that we have come this far, we will try. On the other side is the best team in the world, they have proven that. We know what awaits us. We are proud of this campaign, we will do our best and we must be fully focused. Reducing mistakes and exploiting opportunities will be key,” said the coach, recalling that this is the 57th game of a long and difficult season, which could also be glorious for the nerazzuri.
Just like the coach of the Italians, Guardiola also has the team at maximum strength. The Manchester City coach knows the taste of a win, but he also knows what it takes to lose a final and that’s why he doesn’t favor favoritism: “If we look at history, Inter is bigger than us. But that is not important.” what matters is to have the best possible performance in this final.”
Today’s match will be special for Edin Dzeko, who scored 72 goals in 189 appearances for the English between 2011 and 2016 and now defends the Italians’ colors in Milan. And for Lautaro Martínez, who became world champion for Argentina and was thus allowed to participate in the Champions League. Only City compatriot Julián Álvarez can stop him.
Whoever wins the 64th final of UEFA’s most important competition will add another €20 million to the prizes collected so far, and whoever loses will receive another €15.5 million.
Source: DN
