Inter Milan is an outsider in the Champions League final against Man City. One of the players expected the sudden advance.
legend:
At his best at the crucial stage
Romelu Lukaku, here with teammate Denzel Dumfries on the back.
Keystone / AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Experts, bookmakers and the champions themselves see Manchester City as the favorites in the Champions League final. English champions, full of stars and money, hope and await redemption with the greatest title ever. The fact that Inter Milan’s opponents get the chance to go down in football history was a surprise. The previously dominant Italian league has recently lost its touch.
Now, however, Italy has been the only country to take one team into each of the three European finals – but the culmination of a great season is yet to come. Roma lost to Sevilla in the Europa League, while Fiorentina lost to West Ham in the Conference League. The Nerazzurri now faces the most difficult task of winning the season on Saturday night for the league.
Romelu Lukaku is one of those who believed in it from the start of the season. The Belgian striker has predicted Inter coach Stephen Zhang will reach the final of the CL Summer. “I laughed and thought: ‘Lukaku is crazy,’” Zhang said. “He was right about that.” Gazzetta dello Sport.
spoiled for choice in the storm
Lukaku’s early optimism may come as a surprise, as will his now-proven psychic ability. The striker was not happy at Chelsea and did not return to Italy on loan with great confidence.
The start to the season was also very low, with numerous injuries preventing the 30-year-old from putting in his best performances. The Belgian had to deal with the worst blow of the World Cup in Qatar: having had several great chances In the decisive group match against Croatia, he was blamed as the No. 1 scapegoat early on.
Only since the second half of the season has the chubby lad finally been fully fit again, and it’s only been two months since he started running again – and how. In the last eight league matches he scored seven goals, the “Lola” duo with Lautaro Martinez and Lukaku are definitely back.
The Italians also hope with this force in the “First Division” final. Up front, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi is spoiled with choice as to whether to play Lukaku or Edin Dzeko alongside world champions Martinez.
Coach has a high regard for his opponent, ManCity, and thinks of him as “the ultimate beast in a video game”. But: “In important games, I’ve seen my kids call up resources they didn’t think they had.” Inter recently won the Italian Cup, defeating local rivals AC Milan in the Serie A semi-finals and have continued to show strong form thereafter. But the toughest test awaits Saturday night.
“Creator. Troublemaker. Reader. Tv nerd. Proud beer advocate. Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Introvert. Certified zombie practitioner. Thinker.”
More Stories
Challenge League, Round 33 – Sion and Thun close together – Baden has to step back again – Sport
International Football News – Reus and PVP go their separate ways – Sports
News from American Sports – Maple Leafs Force Game 7 – Pacers knock out Bucks – Sports