The past three years haven’t been entirely smooth sailing for Inter forward Romelu Lukaku. But with the Champions League final against Manchester City to come on Saturday the Belgian believes that a win over the Premier League champions would be the crowning moment of his two stints with the Nerazzurri.
A number of things are up in the air for the game against Manchester City, as revealed by his interview at Appiano Gentile during Inter’s media day. Speaking to CNN, the striker discussed his feelings about his possible omission from the starting XI and his time at the club as a whole.
The debate is still ongoing around who Simone Inzaghi will prefer to partner Lautaro Martinez, with Edin Dzeko and Lukaku both being viable options. It is thought that Dzeko, not Lukaku, will be chosen from the start.
Unbothered, though, the 30-year-old insisted: “Inter is more important [than my inclusion], I’m looking at Inter and I want Inter to win.”
Inter’s treble-winning heroes of 2010
There, of course, has been links to the Inter’s previous success in the competition, yet these links go further than just that, with the heroes from the legendary treble of 2010 seeing themselves within this squad.
With that being Inter’s most recent European success and it coming relatively recently, it’s only natural for comparisons to be made between the two side. In terms of playing style, there aren’t many similarities between that Jose Mourinho side and this Inzaghi team, but the team spirit is something that unites them.
“Many of the players from that team come to watch our matches and feel the same,” Lukaku said, claiming that the current crop of Nerazzurri players share the spirit of those heroes of 2010, as reported by La Gazzetto dello Sport.
Ready for Manchester City
Lukaku has plenty of experience against Manchester City, and his first came 10 seasons ago as a 20-year-old. Then playing for West Bromwich Albion, the Belgian came on in the 81st minute in a 2-1 defeat.
The results against Manchester City haven’t often gone his way though, with Lukaku being on the winning side just three times from 18 games, twice with Everton and once for Manchester United.
This Manchester City side is a different beast though. Pep Guardiola’s side consistently evolve themselves year upon year, but one thing that remains is their ability to cut teams apart at will.
“Guardiola in every match has a different game plan, so [Erling] Haaland always have chances to score and they manage to open up defences,” Lukaku said, aware of the threat posed by the Norwegian and Guardiola’s team as a whole.
Inzaghi and his staff will have to find a way to stop Manchester City’s ways and frustrate them, knowing truly that they will be ready for the game, and Lukaku knows that as much as anybody.
Whilst it is yet to be seen if the Belgian will start, the Nerazzurri camp have belief in themselves and dream of returning from Istanbul with the trophy.
