Raheem Sterling is expecting the Champions League final against Chelsea to be ‘really tough.’
Raheem Sterling said “I expect a physically demanding game. Chelsea is a strong a team who have a lot of physically strong players. I expect a really tough test. We have played them twice [with Tuchel as manager] and lost twice but this is a Champions League final. On the day, things are a lot different. You go into it with a clean mindset, those games that happened against them in recent times go out the window. It is now about focusing on winning that trophy. The only thing that can stop us are ourselves if I am honest. It is a game where I expect a difficult test, but at the same time I expect us to pull through.”
City have finally reached the pinnacle after falling short in agonising fashion in previous seasons under Pep Guardiola, with heartbreaking exits to Monaco, Liverpool, Tottenham and Lyon. Sterling believes that the difference this time around is that luck has finally been on the Blues’ side.
Raheem Sterling said “In the past we haven’t had the rub of the green and the luck that we needed. There have been games that we should have won and certain circumstances we haven’t. That is football at the end of the day and why we keep going and love it. This year, we played well and also had the luck that we needed.”
Manchester City are aiming to lift the prestigious Champions League trophy for the first time in their history on Saturday, as they appear in their first final in Porto’s Estadio do Dragao. Standing in their way is familiar foe, Chelsea, however, and the two sides have already played out several battles this season. Their first meeting came at the turn of the year as a depleted City side hammered the Londoners 3-1, with all of their goals coming in a blistering first-half. Thomas Tuchel then replaced Frank Lampard as manager and Chelsea won the next two meetings, in the FA Cup semi-final and in the league. The previous results set up a tantalising final match on the biggest stage of all and Sterling is ready for a difficult game.
