Manchester City are preparing for their Champions League rematch with Inter Milan at the beginning of an expanded tournament that promises to be 'so tough' for the 2023 champions. Pep Guardiola's team defeated Inter 1-0 in the final two seasons ago, with Rodri's goal securing their first Champions League title on a memorable night in Istanbul. Inter will visit the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, marking City's first encounter with the competition's new format, which features 36 teams competing in a single table and playing eight fixtures each, instead of the traditional group stage with six matches.
City defender Manuel Akanji is not a supporter of the new format due to the additional strain it will place on players during a demanding season that will culminate with Guardiola's squad participating in the Club World Cup in the United States. 'It's becoming more complex with the league. You face different teams, and then Inter don't have the same opponents as us. It's just expanded, more games,' Akanji noted. 'Then we have the Club World Cup at the end of the season. It's just game after game, and I'm unsure how it will pan out over the next couple of years. It's so tough; you don't just consider this season but also next season. When do we take holidays? There are no winter breaks.' If we're fortunate, we get two weeks and then need to return and prepare for next season. There's no end to it. I don't know how it works out. Maybe I'll retire at 30!'
Despite his grievances, the 29-year-old Akanji is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to face Inter again following their treble-winning triumph 15 months ago. It was a cathartic victory for City after a series of disheartening Champions League setbacks during the Guardiola era, including a 2021 final loss to Chelsea. City had to dig deep before Rodri finally breached Inter's well-organized defense in the second half of a tense encounter at the Ataturk Stadium.
'I'm looking forward to it, even with the new format,' Akanji said. 'I think the old one was better, but we still face the best teams, and we start with a great game against Inter. The last time we played them was in the final, so good memories for us.' City's Champions League title defense was halted by eventual winners Real Madrid last season, with the Spanish side emerging victorious from a quarter-final penalty shoot-out in Manchester. However, City's latest European exit was less painful thanks to the fond memories of their victory against Inter.
City continued their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 win against Brentford on Saturday. Notably, influential Spain midfielder Rodri played his first 45 minutes of the season in the second half after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the Euro 2024 final victory against England. With England defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker also making their first starts this term, Guardiola is close to having all his key players available just in time for a busy period.
'Rodri came on and played really well. He played 45 minutes, and I asked him how he felt, and he said he felt good. He is so important for us,' Guardiola said. 'Kyle had his first minutes, John had his first minutes. It's really good to have that.'
