Manchester City’s Champions League final preparations for UCL final have stepped up a notch as they aim to become just the second English team to win the coveted treble.
On June 10, Pep Guardiola’s team will take on surprise finalists Inter Milan in Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium in an effort to win their first championship following years of significant investment and close calls.
The players undoubtedly still need time to recover from their Saturday night celebrations after defeating Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Ahead of the Turkey battle, they have since started full-time training again.
A video of Riyad Mahrez embarrassing Erling Haaland during a training session on June 6 has surfaced online, leaving fans in stitches.
Mahrez sits Haaland with moves
For starters, Mahrez’s close ball control and dribbling skills are world-class and it should come as no surprise if he gets one past an opponent.
However, considering the reputation Haaland has built this season, no one thought he too could also fall for the Algerian’s quick feet.
In what appears to be a rondo session, the Norwegian closed down Mahrez in a bid to win the ball, but the former Leicester City man turned him inside out and left him sitting.
👀 Haaland, getting done by Mahrez… 🤣#ManCity #UCL pic.twitter.com/HVAPqWfZep
— Gabriel (@Doozy_45) June 6, 2023
Haaland sees the funny side as he lets out a wry smile. His close friend at the club, Jack Grealish is seen laughing as the Man City goal machine picks himself up.
Guardiola will be hoping his star can rediscover his form in front of goal against Simone Inzaghi’s side.
Despite having had a 36-goal season, the 22-year-old has not scored in four games now, which by his standards, is something of a dry spell.
Mahrez, meanwhile, is likely to start on the bench despite successfully putting the club’s top scorer on the floor, with Guardiola expected to stick with his usual formation of Bernardo Silva and Grealish attacking from wide.
Bastoni plans to stop Haaland
Sports Brief also reported on Inter Milan defender, Alessandro Bastoni disclosing he has been studying footage of Real Madrid star, Antonio Rudiger, as he attempts to stop Erling Haaland.
Manchester City are the clear favourite going into the final of the UEFA Champions League on Saturday at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side, which has won the Premier League and FA Cup titles, has already defeated Real Madrid and Bayern Munich en route to the final and is aiming for an unprecedented treble.