Man City’s 23-man Champions League final squad confirmed after landing in Istanbul
Manchester City will not face any significant setbacks due to key players being absent for their important Champions League match on Saturday.
The team’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has announced the 23 players in the squad for the final against Inter Milan. They arrived in Istanbul on Thursday night, as they aim to complete the final part of their treble.
Earlier in the day, the team departed from the City Football Academy to Manchester Airport, where they were greeted by club staff and fans displaying flags along the roads.
On Friday, Guardiola will lead the team’s training session at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. It is worth noting that Kyle Walker, who missed Tuesday’s training session, will be present, alleviating concerns about his fitness.
Additionally, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who sustained minor injuries during City’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester United, have both been declared fit for the upcoming match.
Club owner Sheikh Mansour is going above and beyond by arranging travel not only for the players but also for their families and friends. They will be flying on a private flight to Istanbul.
While some players have opted to book private jets for their loved ones, many, including Jack Grealish’s parents, siblings, and close friend Ollie Priestley, will be accepting the club’s offer. A club source stated: “Jack and the others like the idea of the families being together. They’re staying in a hotel close to the team’s official one.”
Guardiola was handed a bouquet of flowers as the team touched down, and has this week acknowledged the game will define his legacy at the club: “We must accept that if we want to make a definitive step as a big club, we must win in Europe,” he said.
“We have to win the Champions League – that’s something you can’t avoid. Sooner or later, we have to win in Europe to go to another level. The important thing is to be there again and again and again.”
And De Bruyne has insisted there is no anxiety in the ranks, insisting: “We try to win every game possible. Sometimes you’re not good enough and another team is better than you and you have to accept it.
“That’s happened in the past, when other teams won against us. We know how big the moment is, but I feel the more relaxed you are as a team – and the team is doing pretty well with that at the moment – you get a better chance.”
Manchester City squad: Ederson, Ortega, Carson; Ake, Akanji, Dias, Stones, Laporte, Walker, Lewis, Gomez; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Phillips, Perrone, Grealish, Foden, Mahrez, Palmer, Haaland, Alvarez.
Man City’s 23-man Champions League final squad confirmed after landing in Istanbul
