Treble-aspirers Manchester City have finalized their on-pitch training in view of the Champions League final on Saturday.
The Citizens have already lifted the Premier League and FA Cup, they are hoping to achieve an incredible feat in English football history.
Pep Guardiola’s side have their sights on becoming the first club in England to win the treble since Manchester United in 1999.
Manchester City trained at the Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadium on Friday in Turkiye, in their final set of preparations for the final.
The final is set to be an intense and possibly grueling game with two teams who have disparity in styles and fortunes.
The three-peat winners of the Premier League also brought in a legend to come oversee some training activities in the session.
Anyway, without further ado, Futballnews would be given you an wholesome breakdown of how the final training session went.
These are five of the biggest topical conversations from the last training session of the Citizens.
Keeping your eyes on the prize
On many occasions, some managers employ the strategy of keeping the mood less tense ahead of a final.
However, it appears Pep Guardiola is focused on lifting his third Champions League title and he wants his players to leave no stone unturned.
In totality, it was not an entirely intense training session but Pep Guardiola kept a stony-appearance as he watched his boys gear up for their biggest game of the season.
The Manchester City boss also held frequent conferences with his assistant managers as they made plans over the style they would implement in the final.
Guardiola did get directly involved in the training session as he played the game of keepy-uppy with his players.
Keepy-uppy is basically a game where players attempt to keep a football in the air for a lengthy period of time.
This can be done through the use of several body parts except the arm and hands.
The 52-year-old manager looks to be focused on the final and is putting all efforts to ensure his players are also equally ready for the task at hand.
One club legend returns for Manchester City
Pep Guardiola also welcomed a club legend in Sergio Kun Aguero back to their midst in order to spur the team and give them the needed motivation for the final.
Aguero offered the Manchester City side some key insights that they must take note of.
Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez alongside two former teammates of the Argentine in Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne were all seen talking with the City great.
Sergio Kun Aguero came in as a substitute in the previous and only time the Citizens have made it to the final of this competition.
But certainly we know how legendary a player he was for the Manchester based club.
He lifted many trophies with City even at intense times and obviously he would be one of the right match to offer important advise to the current players of the club he represented from 2011 to 2021.
Pep Guardiola is banking on Erling Haaland
Definitely, we have all seen the immense contribution of Haaland to the Manchester City team, even in the Champions League.
The Norwegian is the top scorer in the competition this season with 12 goals and Guardiola would be hoping he can add to that tally on Saturday.
They shared lovely moments in Friday’s training session and the pair were seen in warm embrace during the training.
Ederson back to the starting XI
Stefan Ortega was in goal the last time Manchester City were in action. Ortega starred in goal as he helped the Citizens win their 8th FA Cup title defeating eternal rivals Manchester United in the final.
However, barring any catastrophic circumstances, Guardiola would hand back his goalkeeping slot in the starting eleven to first-choice Ederson Moraes.
The former Benfica No 1 showed off glimpses of brilliant shot-stopping moves during Friday’s session as attackers of Man City lined up for shooting practice.
Ortega and Scott Carson were given second fiddle attention as Ederson regained his spot.
Erling Haaland injured during training?
Hahaha! This is obviously not what Manchester City fans want to hear but for haters, sorry to burst your bubble…Haaland is fine.
But the Norwegian got himself to the floor after he tried to volley a ball back to a team-mate.
Erling Haaland fell over a crate of water bottles and went to the ground instantly as he fell onto his hip and took some moments prior to sitting back up.
One of the coaching staff of Manchester City then came over to assist the former Borussia Dortmund forward in getting back up.
The Citizens are preparing for the final and in like manner, the bigger side historically going into the final Inter Milan are also gearing up, but only one winner would emerge.
