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ScorecardWahab Riaz sees the lighter side after a misfield•AFP

A pair of wickets late in the day that broke an ominous fifth wicket partnership for Sui Northern Gas Piplelines Limited (SNGPL) meant the first day of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy final ended with honours just about even. Iftikhar Ahmed made an unbeaten 71 that he carries into day two, and the extent to which he can add to his overnight total may well go a long way to determining the destination of this year’s trophy.On Water and Power Development Authority’s (WAPDA) part, the day was defined by a mesmeric opening spell by Mohammad Asif, who swung and seamed the ball at will, bringing back memories of his heydays in a Pakistan shirt towards the end of the last decade. He was particularly miserly, too, going at less than one per over in his first spell. He accounted for Asad Shafiq, but deserved more considering he ended the day with figures of 20-8-35-1.WAPDA were well on top in the first two sessions, reducing a powerful SNGPL side to 94 for 4, with international stars Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali and Shafiq all sent back cheaply. But Iftikar and Mohammad Rizwan, both of whom have played only a handful of international games, stuck together to put on a crucial 89-run partnership and steer their side past choppy waters.Just as SNGPL seemed dominant, Wahab Riaz, who bowled with both accuracy and pace even towards the end of the day, broke through. With the old ball offering little help, he resorted to bouncers, an especially quick one rushing Rizwan into a pull shot he top edged. Khushdil Shah took a simple catch on the boundary and WAPDA were back in business. When the sixth wicket fell soon after, it looked like they might polish off the tail. But Yasir Shah hung around to provide capable support to Iftikhar, and when the day was called off six overs early for bad light, SNGPL had reached 215 for 6.

Sunderland are reportedly in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a permanent move for full-back Colin Dagba.

What’s the latest Sunderland transfer news?

The Black Cats and Tony Mowbray have been fairly busy in the transfer market this summer ahead of their Championship opener on Sunday at home to Ipswich Town, looking to go one better following a top-six finish last time out.

The club have brought in a number of players in recent weeks, with fees paid for Jenson Seelt, Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham and Eliezer Mayenda from PSV Eindhoven, Central Coast Mariners, Birmingham City and FC Sochaux respectively.

Meanwhile, teenager Luis Semedo and former Blackburn Rovers man Bradley Dack have both made the move to The Stadium of Light on free transfers. In total, Sunderland have spent just under €5m on transfers, but it looks as if that could soon go up with a possible move for Dagba.

According to French outlet Foot Mercato in the last 48 hours, Sunderland and Paris Saint-Germain are in discussions over the transfer of Dagba.

It is believed that the two sides are in talks over a permanent deal, with Dagba’s future at the Parc des Princes ‘blocked’.

Who is Colin Dagba?

Dagba made the move to PSG’s academy as a teenager back in 2016 from Boulogne and progressed into the first team setup two years later.

Now 24 years of age, the Frenchman is primarily a right-back who can also turn out at left-back or as a right-midfielder and was once valued at €18m by Transfermarkt. That figure has dropped to €4.5m, with Dagba’s £22,000-a-week contract having two years left to run.

Sponsored by Nike, Dagba has made 77 senior appearances across all competitions for PSG over the years, scoring one goal and providing six assists.

He has won three Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups, one French League Cup and three French Super Cups during his time with PSG but spent last season on loan with RC Strasbourg, turning out on 21 occasions in the French top flight.

Dagba was once hailed by centre-back Presnel Kimpembe for his display in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, saying:

"I want to say, I am proud. Even though we lost, it remains very positive. For me, it means a lot to be able to have PSG youth products on the pitch, it shows that there is soul in this club.

"Colin showed what he was capable of, I am very proud of him. Collectively we did the job, but I would like to congratulate him because he was hyper-focused."

At Sunderland, Mowbray currently has Trai Hume and Niall Huggins as right-back options, so Dagba could come in and rival the pair while also offering an alternative option at left-back to Dennis Cirkin.

He was even labelled as a wonderkid who managers should look to sign on Football Manager back in 2020, and by the looks of things, a move to The Stadium of Light may well be on the cards for Dagba, making this one to watch over the coming days.

The fast bowler has tweaked a problematic action with inputs from coach Ottis Gibson and is ‘champing’ to work his way back

Firdose Moonda08-Nov-2017Chris Morris’ search for speed caused the back injury that has sidelined him for the last four months. As a result, he has had to modify his action.Morris suffered a lower-back problem in England in August, which ruled him out of the fourth Test in Manchester and all action since. He expects to make a return midway through the Ram Slam, for the Titans, and when he does, it will not be at the expense of pace but with a smoother, better approach which the new coach Ottis Gibson has helped him with.”I’ve had a few tweaks in my action that Ottis has changed. I had to iron it out because it wasn’t good enough – simple as that,” Morris said at the Ram Slam launch in Johannesburg. “I think in striving for a bit of extra pace, there was some twisting in my action. I’ve got quite a bad kick-out with my left foot before I land. I was getting lazy and doing quite a lot of twisting, which caused a lot of pressure on my lower back and inevitably caused the injury.”A hallmark of Morris’ performances in England was his pace, particularly when Faf du Plessis gave him freedom to “be aggressive and bowl fast.” The directive paid off in the short term as Morris dismissed Joe Root and Alastair Cook in an impressive spell at Trent Bridge but caused a long-term concern.Though Morris did not break or tear anything, he suffered inflammation and strain in the muscles of the lower back. If left untreated, it could have caused a stress fracture. Part of the treatment was making the changes to his action that should keep Morris symptom-free, though he knows he may respond adversely at any time.”If I didn’t get injured I still would have had to change my action. In bowling, you like to work in straight lines, and I was working along the wrong lines. That’s where the injury came along,” he explained. “We can’t re-scan the same injury because we’d see the same thing the whole time. So we work on symptoms – if there is pain you stop, otherwise you play. I’ve got to trust the gym and rehab, all the things I’ve been doing behind the scenes since my injury happened.”Like Morris, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Wayne Parnell have also been doing undergoing intensive rehabilitation. Philander also had a lower back problem and returned to action in the first-class competition, with good results – he took five wickets and scored 80 for the Cobras. Steyn, Morkel and Parnell will all be back at some stage of the Ram Slam, which means that when the time comes for choosing a Test squad – first to face Zimbabwe in the inaugural four-day Test on Boxing Day and then to play India – there will be competition.Gibson has already flung the door open for Steyn, saying as long as the premier pacer thinks he can make it through a match, he will play. Morris cannot expect the same hospitality, given his relative inexperience especially at Test level. But he was encouraged by Gibson’s approach and is confident he can work his way back.”It’s always good to know that the coach is backing the guys who aren’t playing, especially with injuries because that’s part of the game,” Morris said. “If a youngster is better than me he must play, it’s as simple as that, but I’m always going to be fighting for my spot because playing for South Africa is what I want to do. If I never play for South Africa again it’s cool, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I’m obviously champing at the bit. It hurt me quite a lot to see the guys running around this morning and playing soccer, so I’ve got quite a lot of motivation.”Morris is particularly looking forward to working more with Gibson, whose experience with England he is hoping to draw on.”I’ve only had a week and a half with him and he’s been excellent. In England, he had the fortune of working with the best new-ball attack in the world in my opinion. If they’ve rubbed off on him, as a South African bowling attack we’re going to be richer for it,” Morris said. “He’s been doing this for a long time and has a lot of experience. It’s quite clear what our plans are going forward as a team. We’re in a happy space, and it’s quite exciting.”

Aston Villa still need further additions in midfield this summer and Leeds United enforcer Tyler Adams could be someone that they firm up interest in, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Tyler Adams joining Aston Villa this summer?

According to The Athletic, Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is someone who the Villans are keen on adding to their squad this summer as Unai Emery eyes reinforcements in the engine room.

Aston Villa have been keen on the USA international for 'some time' and he performed well for his current employers last season despite their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

In total, Adams made 26 appearances for Leeds United across all competitions last term, as per Transfermarkt. During the campaign, the 24-year-old's ability to win challenges stood out, winning 3.7 tackles per match in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.

West Ham United have been name checked as another potential destination for Adams as the Hammers seek to land a replacement for Declan Rice, with James Ward-Prowse and Denis Zakaria being earmarked as alternative targets by David Moyes, as per The Daily Mail.

Contractually, Adams, who has been hailed as a "leader", is believed to earn around £55,000 per week at Elland Road on a contract that runs until June 2027, as per Capology.

High-flyers Aston Villa have already added to their midfield department this window by bringing in Youri Tielemans from Leicester City on a free transfer.

Nevertheless, journalist Jacobs is of the belief that the Villans will need to add further depth to their options in the middle of the park and wouldn't be surprised if they exploit Leeds United's relegation to try and land Adams.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs stated: "But I think that Villa in particular feel that even though they've brought in Youri Tielemans, the midfield still needs strengthening. And that might well allow them to capitalise on Leeds' relegation and escalate their pursuit of Tyler Adams."

Who else have Aston Villa been linked with this window?

According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa are keen on both Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby and Rennes man Jeremy Doku as they look to strengthen the flanks this summer.

Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr are 'threatening' to stump Aston Villa in their pursuit of Diaby after the Villans saw an opening bid of £30 million rebuffed by Bayer Leverkusen.

According to L'Equipe, Aston Villa also lead the race to sign Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix, who endured a forgettable spell on loan at Chelsea last term.

Marca journalist David G. Medina has followed up on the story, stating on Twitter: "As we have counted in marca there is NO interest from PSG in Joao. The one who DOES love the Portuguese is Aston Villa. L'Equipe, the most reliable medium with PSG and with so many other topics, confirms it."

Telegraph Sport claim that Aston Villa are considering making an approach for Nottingham Forest striker Brennan Johnson; however, the Reds are said to value the Wales international at a fee exceeding £50 million.

In the next few weeks, it wouldn't be surprising if developments occur concerning potential incomings at Aston Villa as boss Emery looks to get his squad in shape for a commanding schedule in 2023/24 that will involve juggling both domestic and European football.

With the new season fast approaching, Leeds United will seemingly need to dip into the transfer market sooner rather than later if they are to have any chance of promotion, with new boss Daniel Farke no doubt requiring sufficient backing if he is to lead a successful charge back into the top flight next term.

One area that the Yorkshire giants particularly need to address is the forward ranks, with the likes of Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto set to be on their way – amid interest from Everton – while both Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford are also likely to seek out pastures new.

That possible exodus will likely leave the ex-Norwich City coach rather thin on the ground in that department, hence just why suitable replacements must be found as a matter of urgency, with pre-season already now underway.

According to reports in his native Nigeria, Nottingham Forest marksman, Emmanuel Dennis is potentially set to be the subject of an offer from those at Elland Road, with the 25-year-old all but certain to leave the Premier League side this summer after just a solitary season at the City Ground.

The former Watford man had initially signed for the Midlands outfit a year ago, although went on to play a bit-part role under Steve Cooper in the 2022/23 season, having been restricted to just six league starts.

Despite those recent woes, the striker's prior form at Vicarage Road – and during his time in Belgium at Club Brugge – should be cause for excitement among Leeds supporters, as should his likeness to a current Elland Road star in the form of Crysencio Summerville…

How much is Emmanuel Dennis worth?

Despite being valued at just €5m (£4m) by CIES Football Observatory, it was only 12 months ago that the eight-cap hitman had sealed a move to Forest for a fee of around £20m, having netted ten goals and laid on six assists during the previous season for the Hornets.

The 5 foot 9 machine had initially caught the eye after registering 42 goal involvements in 116 games in all competitions in Bruges, memorably scoring twice in a 2-2 draw with La Liga giants Real Madrid in a Champions League tussle at the Bernabeu in 2019.

A player of great pedigree, the "stunning" striker – as lauded by journalist Josh Bunting – would also represent an astute move for Leeds due to his similarity to the aforementioned Summerville, according to FBref, with the pair both undoubtedly exciting attacking assets.

That likeness is particularly showcased by the duo's willing work ethic on the flanks across the last 365 days, with Dennis ranking in the top 10% for tackles made and the top 5% for aerial duels won among his European peers, while Summerville ranks in the top 15% for tackles made, as well as in the top 15% for interceptions.

The current Whites star – who has been tipped to go "right to the very top" of the game by club insider, John Wenham – enjoyed a promising, albeit unspectacular 2022/23 season after scoring four goals and laying on two assists in 28 league outings, albeit with only 12 of those coming from the start.

The hope will be that a more consistent run of games at a lower level could allow the Netherlands U21 international to truly blossom, with the winger likely to benefit from the loss of the likes of Gnonto, Harrison et al.

For Summerville to then be joined by the £40k-per-week Forest man could prove a menacing combination in the Championship next season, with that the type of partnership that could steer Farke and co to promotion.

U.S. men's national team winger Christian Pulisic provided an update on his fitness on Tuesday.

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Pulisic back training on grassUSMNT star posts social media update

Winger missed November international break through injury

WHAT HAPPENED?

Photos posted on Instagram showed the USMNT winger playing on a grass surface, while training in Milan gear. Pulisic picked up a knock in the final minutes of the Rossoneri's 2-1 victory over Kylian Mbappe and PSG in the UEFA Champions League. Now, ahead of a return to Serie A action at the weekend, the forward has posted that he's back in training – seemingly confirming that he's avoided any sort of serious injury.

InstagramInstagramAdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Without Pulisic, Milan drew Lecce 2-2 on November 11, the day before the international break kicked off. It's a big boost for the Rossoneri ahead of the weekend to have the forward in contention, as he seems to be an important puzzle piece in their success of late.

DID YOU KNOW?

In the six matches that Pulisic has either scored or assisted in this season, Milan have not lost once, and have only settled for a draw on a single occasion too. Will the former Chelsea man extend that streak this weekend?

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC AND MILAN?

Club football returns this weekend with Milan hosting Fiorentina in Serie A. The status of Pulisic's fitness is still unknown, but seeing him in training has to be a positive for Stefano Pioli's side. If the USMNT winger isn't ready he'll be hoping to make his return on November 28, when his former club Borussia Dortmund come to town in UCL action.

Gio Reyna made the most of a chance to shine in the DFB-Pokal as the American put in a solid shift in a win over John Brooks and Hoffenheim.

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• Reyna and Brooks both start
• USMNT midfielder's second start in a row
• Dortmund faces gruelling schedule

Reyna made his second consecutive start and logged 70 good minutes in the win, creating several big chances for Dortmund. The hosts, ultimately, got their goal through Marco Reus just before halftime, as they sealed a 1-0 victory at Signal Iduna Park.

With the win, Dortmund have advanced to the competition's round of 16, with the draw set for November 5 with matches to be held on December 5-6.

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  It was a relatively dominant first half for Dortmund, who had Hoffenheim under siege but struggled to truly break through.

  That breakthrough did come, though, just minutes before halftime with Reus the goalscorer, as he has been so often over the years. The German star was on the end of a cutting pass from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, allowing him to loop a shot into the right corner to give Dortmund the lead.

  It was a lead they would never relinquish as Hoffenheim struggled to create much of anything en route to their 1-0 defeat.

  In total, Dortmund outshot their opponents, 22-6, in a fairly dominant display headlined by a trio of young stars and the legendary Reus.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The start was Reyna's second consecutive appearance in the Dortmund XI, as he had previously started in the 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt over the weekend. He lasted just 45 minutes in that match, though, making this run out a little bit more substantial.

  Reyna played 70 minutes in this one as he continues to ramp up fitness after returning from an injury that delayed his start to the season. Those 70 minutes were largely good, as he combined well with fellow young stars Youssoufa Moukoko and Bynoe-Gittens, who also showed well in the win. Reus may have gotten the goal, but it was the performances of those three that will leave Dortmund fans most impressed.

  As for Brooks, he's been ever-present for Hoffenheim to start this season and he remains a key starter for the club as they sit sixth in the league even after this cup defeat.

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  USMNT IMPACT

  Reyna is very clearly still working his way back to full fitness, having only returned to the field just ahead of the international break in October. Getting this start is good news, although the USMNT will be waiting to see him get more regular minutes in the Bundesliga before getting too excited.

  As for Brooks, who knows what his USMNT status is. Gregg Berhalter namedropped him this fall as a player that is in the centerback pool, which was the first sign in a while that he may actually be in consideration. It'll likely take a series of strong performances but, with the Copa America just around the corner, Berhalter will need to consider all options.

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  GOAL'S RATINGS

  Gio Reyna (7/10):

  Didn't get a goal contribution, but it felt like he could have had several. Was tricky and decisive in the attack, creating five chances during his 70-minute run. It was the type of performance that will lead to more opportunities, for sure.

  John Brooks (5/10):

  Helped hold down the fort against plenty of Dortmund attacks, but was at least partially at fault on the opening goal after losing Reus. Other than that, passing was good and Brooks was defensively solid, but it all comes down to those one moment, doesn't it?

The CoA has put out a directive on the BCCI website, saying the office bearers cannot take any decisions independently without its permission

Nagraj Gollapudi27-Mar-2017

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) has reiterated to the BCCI office bearers that it remains in charge of the Indian board.On Sunday, the CoA put out a directive on the BCCI website, saying the office bearers cannot take any decisions independently without its permission. Also, any decision reached by any of the BCCI committees will not be binding unless the CoA had given it approval.This fresh communique, the CoA said, was necessitated by the court order on March 24, which clarified that an office bearer could hold nine-year terms at the BCCI and state association separately.That meant virtually all the existing BCCI office bearers could continue in their position. These included Amitabh Choudhry (joint-secretary), Anirudh Chaudhry (treasurer) and at least three of the five vice-presidents – CK Khanna (central zone), TC Mathew (west), Goutam Roy (east).According to the CoA, three office beaers – Choudhry, Chaudhry and Khanna – had filed petitions asking the court to offer clarity on their powers. On January 2 the court had removed the pair of Anurag Thakur (BCCI president) and Ajay Shirke (secretary) for failing to comply with the Lodha Committee recommendations.Till the BCCI elected a fresh administration based on the Lodha Committee recommendations, the court said the most senior BCCI vice-president would be in charge of the board while the joint-secretary would be the acting secretary. Consequently Khanna, who is the most senior vice-president in terms of his tenure, thought he was eligible to be the acting president while Choudhry would take over as acting secretary.As far as the CoA is concerned, though, it is clear about the court giving it the authority to supervise and control the BCCI. “Each of the existing office bearers shall be bound to act in accordance with the instructions of the Committee of Administrators and/or shall discharge their duties only with the prior written approval of the Committee of Administrators,” the COA said in its directive. “Any actions already taken by any of the existing office bearers after the order dated 24th March 2017 shall immediately be intimated in writing by the concerned office bearer(s) to the Committee of Administrators for their permission and shall be continued/proceeded with only after written permission for the same is granted by the Committee of Administrators.”The existing office bearers shall not make any statements, representations or commitments on behalf of the BCCI to any third party including to Government, Court, Tribunal, regulatory authority, media or any cricket body or organisation without the prior written approval of the Committee of Administrators.”Over the weekend there have been unconfirmed reports about some of the BCCI members – state associations – thinking of calling a special general meeting on April 9. Despite repeated diktats from the court, the state associations have remained resolute about not adopting the Lodha Committee recommendations and have filed fresh counter petitions. The CoA has submitted two status reports in the court on the “intransigence” of the state associations.To rein in the rebelling, the CoA issued a stern message. “In order for any action/decision (including without limitation any action/decision taken by any Committee or the General Body) to be valid and binding on the BCCI, the same must be taken with the prior approval of the Committee of Administrators.”According to the CoA, going forward all payments would need the “joint approval” of the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and Choudhry. In case one of them did not approve or failed to sign off on any payment within three days of the other doing it, the CoA would make the final decision. Johri had been given the complete authority to sign all decisions concerning legal issues of the BCCI. It was also pointed out that both Johri and the Santosh Rangnekar, the BCCI’s chief financial officer, will report to the CoA and not the office bearers.

Arsenal have emerged as potential candidates to sign a Premier League star this summer, as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his side in the transfer window.

The Gunners fell just five points short of Manchester City in the race for the title, however, the north Londoners could challenge once more next season should they add more star quality to their squad.

The latest link could do just that, in a player with unquestionable ability and experience in playing in the English top-tier.

What’s the latest on Kai Havertz to Arsenal?

As reported by journalist Alex Goldberg via AFC Stuff, Chelsea ace Kai Havertz could be on Arsenal’s radar this summer.

Goldberg suggested that the German is the Gunners’ ‘next target’ and that the club "really want him", adding that despite such factors, nothing has been formally proposed.

As per The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Chelsea are ‘likely’ to see Havertz exit this summer with the Blues expected to demand a fee in the region of £75m.

What could Kai Havertz offer to Arsenal?

Hailed as “incredibly talented” by former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, the 23-year-old forward has accomplished heights that many his age could only dream of in his illustrious career so far.

The Champions League winner has been one of Stamford Bridge’s shining lights since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, making 47 goal contributions in a total of 139 appearances in blue as per Transfermarkt.

This season has been tough for the club, however, the German has maintained his ability to impose his talent on the league, scoring seven goals and assisting one in a forgettable campaign for the west Londoners – via Sofascore.

Dubbed as “world-class” by Bundesliga legend Matthias Sammer, there’s little to deny the youngster's talents, and particularly what he could bring to Arsenal.

While the Gunners aren’t particularly desperate for a goalscorer, having scored the second-highest number of goals this season in the Premier League, Arteta could bolster his attacking options by signing the forward.

Gabriel Jesus has led the line for Arsenal for the majority of the season, although hasn’t been as prolific as some may have hoped, scoring 11 goals this campaign.

The Brazilian gifts Arteta’s side with attributes incomparable to others in his position, however, he could benefit from having a strike partner or potentially some competition to boost his performance.

Coincidentally, he is likened to the 26-year-old as per FBref, and Havertz could become a strong force in Arsenal’s silky attack, with his numbers displaying clear similarities between the two.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old averages 3.27 progressive passes per 90 to Jesus' 2.76, as well as getting himself into advanced positions as shown through the 8.27 progressive passes he receives per 90.

Although the Brazilian is more of an out-and-out striker, he prides himself on bringing others into play, something Havertz is well known for too.

The £150k-per-week ace could be a weapon at the Emirates for his ball-playing capabilities, attributable to his versatility in playing as both a forward and creative midfielder in his career.

Still being at the start of his career would allow Arteta to mould the talent into producing his best in Arsenal’s fluid front line, showing glimpses that he could follow in Jesus’ footsteps in the sense of integrating himself quickly into the Gunners’ playing style.

The pervading opinion is that Manchester City will cruise to victory in Istanbul, but their Italian opponents lack neither quality nor character

According to , Inter have "no chance" in the Champions League final against Manchester City, and while one should never really pay much attention to some of the English tabloids, it's noteworthy that even the is calling Saturday's showdown in Istanbul "Mission almost impossible" for the Italian team.

There has even been some debate over whether this is, on paper at least, the biggest mismatch we've ever seen at this stage of the competition. In Italy, everyone from Fabio Capello to Antonio Cassano acknowledges that City are the best team in the world right now, the clear favourites to take home the trophy. In England, Jamie Carragher has claimed that Inter are "levels below" their treble-chasing opponents, while Michael Owen is adamant that not a single member of Simone Inzaghi's squad would get in Pep Guardiola's starting line-up.

Fair to say, then, that Inter are under no pressure, but are they feeling any fear? After all, Inter are not only going up against Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan, they must also somehow stop the most terrifying forward in football right now – Erling Haaland.

"I'm scared of murderers and thieves," centre-back Alessandro Bastoni told reporters on Monday, "not guys my own age! We need to go out on the pitch and play football, with a clear mind."

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  Quietly confident

  Which, in fairness, is exactly what they've done nearly all season long in the Champions League, most notably in the semi-finals against AC Milan. In 'the derby of derbies', Inter rose to the occasion; their city rivals appeared overwhelmed by it.

  There is, then, a quiet confidence about Inter right now. They have defied the odds before; they understandably see no reason why they cannot do so again. Remember, nobody expected them to even get out of their group. Having been bracketed with Bayern Munich and Barcelona, it was thought that Inter's most realistic goal was qualification for the Europa League. However, despite losing their tournament-opener, at home to Bayern, they qualified with a game to spare after taking four points off Barca alone.

  And several players have stated this week that the 1-0 win over the Blaugrana at San Siro on October 4 was the key moment in their European campaign. Barca had all the ball that night, but Inter held firm, producing an impressively disciplined defensive display to keep Robert Lewandowski & Co. quiet. Something similar may well be required on Saturday night…

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  Underestimated attacking threat

  Inter can play, though. It's obviously very easy to bill this as the irresistible force against the immovable object, given City are the tournament's top scorers (31 goals), while Inter boast the best defence, with eight clean sheets. But it's a little more nuanced than that.

  Inter certainly do not lack attacking quality, as they proved in the group stage. Barcelona's Liga title triumph was founded upon their excellent defensive work, yet Xavi's side was repeatedly ripped to shreds in a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou that effectively sealed Inter's place in the last 16. Indeed, they dominated the majority of that game, which they also should have won right at the death to completely kill off Barca's faint hopes of qualifying for the next round.

  City should, therefore, be wary of not only star striker Lautaro Martinez, Inter's big-game player who has hit a career-high 28 goals in all competitions this season, but also a resurgent Romelu Lukaku and an evergreen Edin Dzeko.

  Elsewhere, dead-ball specialist Hakan Calhanoglu is a dangerous long-range shooter, while the brilliant box-to-box midfielder Nicolo Barella is always capable of making something happen with his surges into the area (even if he should score more than he does).

  And then there is the threat out wide.

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  'How are City going to open up that back five?'

  After the second-leg win over Milan, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard highlighted the problem posed by Federico Dimarco to opposition defences. The Italian has arguably been the revelation of Inter's entire season, with five assists in the Champions League, and fellow wing-back Denzel Dumfries can also do damage. The Dutchman may be maddeningly inconsistent, but he is capable of getting in behind defences, as he illustrated to impressive effect at the World Cup in Qatar.

  Indeed, while discussing the final immediately after Manchester City had routed Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, Thierry Henry said the aspect of the final he was most looking forward to was seeing how Guardiola tackles Inter's 3-5-2 formation.

  "Dumfries and Dimarco will be quicker to arrive on his wingers than usual, because they will already be there, out wide, in more advanced positions," Henry told . "So, now, how are [City] going to create that overload? How are [they] going to open up that back five? Because it will become a five-man defence in the final because City will have all the ball and Inter will be low. It's easier to kill a back four with how City plays, so Pep might come up with something. I don't know what but I want to see that tactical battle."

  Former Italy international Cassano is just as intrigued, pointing out that Brentford, the one side to do the double over City in the Premier League this season, "play with the same formation as Inter".

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  'We have what it takes to beat City'

  Inter are, of course, acutely aware of the size of the task facing them. Earlier this week, Bastoni dismissed the idea that they will need a miracle to win in Istanbul, but conceded that victory would require a "perfect game from everyone that sets foot on the field".

  However, the ball-playing centre-back – who, contrary to what Owen might think, would slot seamlessly into City's defence – promptly added, "We know our value." And they do.

  Every single player who faced the press on Monday was at pains to point out that while they hold City in the highest esteem, they are no mugs themselves. They may have been somewhat fortunate to find themselves on the right side of the draw, but they have not made it to Istanbul by chance. They deserve to be in the final.

  "We earned this opportunity on the pitch," Robin Gosens declared in an interview with . "We're going there to win. We know it'll be a struggle, but we have what it takes to beat Manchester City."

  The Daily Mail may disagree, of course, but as Dimarco argued, "Inter's history speaks for itself." A childhood fan of the club, he has been rewatching the 2010 final win over Bayern Munich for the past decade. He knows that such historic triumphs have as much to do with character as quality.