Pep Guardiola hint alleviates Man City's biggest fear for Champions League final

Manchester City go into the Champions League final knowing their biggest threat of losing comes from within. Self-destruction.

That's not to downplay the talent and qualities of Inter. They have reached Istanbul on merit, escaping a group containing Bayern Munich and Barcelona while overcoming their city rivals AC Milan in an emotionally charged semi-final. As Pep Guardiola outlined himself, Inter are the archetypal team that tends to give City bother.

"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," he said. "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."

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But, frankly, even with the talents of Lautaro Martinez and Nico Barella, Inter should be no match for the unstoppable juggernaut that is City. They are a force of nature. Spearheaded by the best striker in the game, who is supported by the best midfielders, who are backed up by the best defenders. There are no weaknesses.

But City have been here before. Two years ago they were overwhelming favourites to lift the famous trophy for the first time but they failed. A narrow game defined by one