Manchester City’s stars pose for their Champions League portraits ahead of Saturday’s final
Manchester City stars and their manager Pep Guardiola posed for their official portraits ahead of their Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday.
City are just one win away from becoming the second England team to win the Treble after already winning the Premier League and FA Cup double this season.
Erling Haaland struck a calm pose for the camera while Jack Grealish showed off his trademark goal celebration in one pose, before erupting into a roar.
Every City player donned the club’s sky-blue home shirt, while Guardiola kept it simple – and typically casual – with a black hoodie and cargo pants, which he completed with white sneakers.
The footage shows a confident atmosphere in the camp, despite the pressures City are under at the Ataturk Olympic stadium.
Jack Grealish, who joined City for £100 million, roared for the camera as he looks to play a vital role in Saturday’s final in Istanbul
Man City’s goal-scoring machine, Erling Haaland, remains as cool on camera as he does when heading towards goal
Grealish shows off his signature celebration Man City have become accustomed to after their most prolific season at the Etihad
Kevin De Bruyne looks relaxed as he prepares for his second Champions League final on Saturday night
City landed in the Turkish city on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s clash after flying off the club’s private jet.
There was a split in outfits between players and staff as both sets wore sponsored styles as they disembarked in Istanbul’s humid heat.
Guardiola and his staff in the back room wore all-black outfits consisting of smart leather shoes, a polo shirt and a formal jacket that the City manager decided to wear.
First team players were dressed in washed denim jeans, white polo shirts with the club crest on them and similar black boots.
Individuals carried their own luggage off the plane and down the adjoining staircase, while English star Jack Grealish held a designer Gucci suitcase and Phil Foden carried a black Louis Vuitton backpack.
Guardiola was singled out by greeters waiting on the airport tarmac as he handed over a huge bouquet of flowers, though the Spaniard needs a vase to keep them alive at the team’s hotel during his side’s three-night stay.
Erling Haaland looked focused as he made his way down from the plane behind centre-back Manuel Akanji.
Thousands of City fans have also descended on the city and were seen drinking pints, dancing and singing songs in the streets of Istanbul on Thursday.
Ilkay Gündoğan, arguably City’s best player in the last month of the season, is set to appear in a third Champions League final
Phil Foden shows off his incredible technique juggling the ball, while right-back Kyle Walker maintains a confident stance
Midfield anchor Rodri looks set to start on Saturday after a surprising omission in 2021’s final defeat to Chelsea
Pep Guardiola looks like the coolest man in the room after leading his side to a historic treble-winning season
Ruben Dias shows he is ready for a fight ahead of what will surely be a physical fight with Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez
Bernardo Silva can’t wait for the action to get underway as John Stones remains relaxed after his best season at the Etihad
Goalkeeper Ederson dons the gloves he used to help City conced the fewest goals in the Champions League this season
Manuel Akanji, who has made 47 appearances in all competitions, is a big hit at Manchester following his signing from Dortmund
Guardiola claimed ahead of the match that rivals have “destroyed projects” in pursuit of an elusive Champions League title as Manchester City finally look to break their duck this weekend.
The City boss, who accepted that the club will not be universally popular winners if they triumph against Inter on Saturday, believes legacies are unfairly weighed in order to collect the trophy.
But he admitted that it is an inevitable reality that City must conquer Europe to be regarded as one of the greats.
“So many clubs destroyed projects and ideas because they couldn’t win this game,” Guardiola said.
And so many have become big clubs because they could win them. Even if I do not share this view, I understand that everything we have done over the years, which has been very good, will [only] be meaningful to others if we win this game. It’s a bit unfair, but we have to accept it.’
“We have to accept that if we want to make a final step as a big club, we have to win in Europe,” Guardiola added. “We have to win, you can’t escape that. But the most important thing is to be there again and again.
‘At our club I learned that overstimulation does not suit us. You must be ambitious, but not too greedy. This match has given me very, very sad moments that have hurt me, which will always be in my thoughts, but it has also given me some extremely beautiful moments.” Guardiola suggested he was unaware of how much support City will receive from other fans and clubs in England.
Riyad Mahrez has been involved in 28 goals this season, including three goals and two assists in the Champions League
Julian Alvarez looks cheerful next to his now fully fit teammate Kalvin Phillips, who could still be called upon
Aymeric Laporte has been dropped from City’s starting line-up this season in favor of John Stones playing a hybrid defensive role
Nathan Ake could add the Champions League to the Europa League title he won in 2013 while playing for Chelsea
Rico Lewis made his Champions League debut against FC Copenhagen in October before scoring his first goal against Sevilla