09 June 2023 , 16:37
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Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has come up with a secret plan to stop Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland.
Haaland has plundered 52 goals in all competitions in a record-breaking first season at City, including 12 in as many Champions League games.
The Norwegian poses the biggest threat to Inter's hopes of causing an upset and wrecking City's dream of finally winning the Champions League to seal the Treble.
Inzaghi said he and his coaching staff have come up with a strategy to nullify Haaland, but said it will require the entire Inter team to work together if it is to succeed.
"We have set up something [to stop Haaland],” said Inzaghi. “I have prepared something. But it will involve the whole team and it will be down to them to defend together, not just against Haaland, but the entire City team."
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Inzaghi knows the Italians – who last lifted the trophy in 2010 under Jose Mourinho - are underdogs – and claimed his side are facing the best team on the planet.
"We know we will be playing the best team in the world,” said Inzaghi. "But we will give everything to win this game. We will have to show all of our fight, desire and spirit to get the result we want."
Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is on a mission to make it the perfect season by adding the Champions League to the World Cup he won with Argentina in Qatar.
Lautaro Martinez has been speaking ahead of the Champions League final (Getty Images)Martinez also got married this year and said: "These are the two major finals a footballer can play. The only thing that changes is the shirt. The feelings you have are truly unique, because you know you've made it to the very end, thanks to hard work and determination.
"We've worked hard as a group and the team is what matters most. We're one step away from the win. We know Manchester City are a very tough team to play, but we're ready to work hard and counteract what they can do.”
As for City, speaking before the game, Pep Guardiola said: "I'm more than calm and so grateful for what the players have done and are doing. Finals are completely different and what we do over the next days is understand the way we have to play, play as much who we are but at the same time.
"It's not easy to attack the defensive system that they use. We have to be with a lot of rhythm and be patient. They are going to do it with three, four passes and we have to do it and know the right tempo we have to play.
"This is the right kind of things in these type of games. We know what game goes through, you can get anxious and that will be a problem but they are used to controlling all the games in Italy and we have to defend really well. it is a final against a top team and we have to do it.
"We are confident, I'm so optimistic but at the same time I cannot deny the quality of the opponent. I have never done it and especially not in the final of the Champions League."