Sevilla and former Barcelona and Schalke midfielder Ivan Rakitic feels that whilst Man City are favourites in the Champions League final, Inter Milan can make it a very tough match for the Cityzens.
Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, Rakitic stated that he’ll be supporting the Nerazzurri in next month’s final in Istanbul.
Inter will know full well that they are not favourites in Istanbul next month.
This Manchester City team are arguably the strongest in the world. If they are not, Pep Guardiola’s men are certainly in the top two or three.
This will mean that the Nerazzurri must find a way to make life difficult for a team who can steamroll most opponents.
However, Inter have proven adept at this in the past. Simone Inzaghi’s team have had a knack for approaching one-off matches at their best.
Meticulously detailed match preparation and physical intensity have been hallmarks of Inter’s run to the final.
Therefore, if the Nerazzurri can continue in this way, they can very well give Guardiola’s team a hard time.
Rakitic Expecting A “Battle” Between Man City & Inter Milan
For his part, Sevilla midfielder Rakitic believes that Inter will do just that.
The 35-year-old anticipates a “battle” between the two. If Inter can play their game and commit to stopping City from playing theirs, anything could happen.
“I think the English side, undoubtedly favourites, won’t have life made easy for them,” Rakitic said.
“In one-off match, watch out for surprises.”
“Inter are an excellent team, we saw that in the semifinal derby against Milan,” he noted. “They won twice, with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline.”
“City drew in Madrid and then overwhelmed the Spaniards in England – 5-1 overall.”
“There’s no huge difference between the two,” he noted. “In fact only one fewer goal.”
“Some have put the chances of victory for the English team at eighty percent,” Rakitic noted.
“But in Istanbul that’s not how it will be,” he added.
“I say it’ll be 55-45, at most 60-40 in favour of City.”
“It will be a closely-fought match, a real battle,” Rakitic predicted. “Inter are a tough opponent for City.”
Rakitic also noted that “I’ll be supporting Inter, and I also hope that Fiorentina beat West Ham in Prague.”
