Pep Guardiola can play an inadvertent role in ending Liverpool's Champions League dream

With Manchester City's season already over, both players and fans will be spectators - rather than participants in - the Champions League final on Saturday night.

If it wasn't for a spectacular Real Madrid comeback three weeks ago then City would be preparing to play in the showpiece fixture for the second consecutive season. But football is a cruel mistress, and this year it just wasn't to be.

However, just because the Blues won't be lining up in Paris doesn't mean that Pep Guardiola's sphere of influence won't reach the Stade de France on Saturday night. If Liverpool end up losing to Real Madrid, then Guardiola could be credited with playing a key role.

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Having been rushed back from injury, David Alaba lasted only 45 minutes of the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Etihad Stadium. City won 4-3 that night, but could have easily put the tie to bed in the first half.

For a good 25 minutes Los Blancos could not cope with City relentless pressing, buckling under the pressure and struggling to build their own attacks through calm play at the back. That was unusual given Alaba's presence, an elite ball-playing defender, but it was clear that he was nowhere near full fitness.

He will likely start in central defence for Carlos Ancelotti's side against Liverpool, arguably the only team in Europe better at pressing than City. If Real Madrid are to win the European Cup for the 14th time, then they will need Alaba to be at his best to survive Liverpool's press and build their own attacks.

Alaba's strength in that department can be attributed to Guardiola himself, who coached him for three seasons at Bayern Munich between