ABU DHABI: Manchester City and England’s Jack Grealish says it is a “dream” to be playing alongside his Manchester City teammates this season as the club aims to clinch its first UEFA Champions League title and complete a historic treble.
Pep Guardiola’s team takes on Italian side Inter Milan in Saturday’s showpiece finale in Istanbul, knowing a win in Europe’s elite club competition would end a remarkable season following Premier League and FA Cup triumphs.
England international Grealish is one of three players to have played in all 12 matches on the road to Turkey, creating 35 chances in the competition. The team goes into the crucial clash having scored 31 goals in Europe.
While the 27-year-old winger aims to contribute to adding to that tally this weekend, he says it has been a joy to play with high-caliber players and believes they can cause plenty of problems for Inter Milan given how strong they are at both ends of the pitch.
About being strong in attack and defense, he said: “It’s a bit of both. I think that’s why we’re on the brink of what we’re doing.
“Defensively, we have been brilliant, whether that be Manuel (Akanji), Nathan (Ake), Ruben (Dias), John (Stones). They have all been unbelievable. Especially Kyle (Walker) against Real Madrid was brilliant.
“Erling Haaland is another one who’s come into the squad and scored more than 50 goals. At both ends of the pitch, it’s been unbelievable, and it is a dream to play with this team.”
Despite their impressive season so far, Grealish admits his teammates will need to be at the top of their game if they are to overcome Inter Milan, a different task to what has been faced in domestic competition.
Grealish said: “It’s a different game to what we’ve faced (in the league and cup). We know the teams around us well, and we know how they’ll play. We’re seeing their players on international duty too, so we do know the teams at home more.
“I’m not sure if I have played against many of their players before,” he said of Inter. “But I love watching football, so I know their players and what strengths they have.”
