Former Chelsea Boss Compares Lukaku to Drogba Ahead of Champions League Final

• The UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan is just a day away
• There are various comments about the club from elements linked to both clubs and players
• A former Chelsea boss is the latest to show support for a player ahead of tomorrow’s UCL clash

The UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, is just a sleep away.

There have been different comments from both camps, including former players and elements associated with clubs and players.

It carries tremendous implications for the Italians but an even bigger one for Pep Guardiola, as a win equals completing a historic treble and cementing his legacy in England and football generally.

The two teams have landed in the ancient city and are putting the final touches to their preparations and doing media rounds ahead of the big day.

Antony stretchered off with an apparent serious injury

Football

Di Matteo backs Lukaku

There is a division in the Chelsea fraternity over Romelu Lukaku, their player on loan at Inter despite moving for £97.5m two years ago.

Roberto Di Matteo, the man who delivered the first Champions League trophy to the Blues, is solidly behind the player, comparing him to Didier Drogba, who was the star of Munich in 2012.

“The Drogba of this Inter is my friend Romelu: I met him at 19 at Chelsea, when I was assistant to Villas-Boas. He was incredibly hungry. I can say that, if he’s well, he really rocks the world. He’s a beast that doesn’t stop,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Belgian is unlikely to start the final tomorrow as head coach, Simone Inzaghi will opt to keep faith in Bosnian striker, Edin Dzeko, who has partnered with Lautaro Martinez for most of the season, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports in a different publication.

Erling Haaland's two words message to Dortmund ahead of title decider

Football

Haaland reveals UCL inspiration

Sports Brief also reported that Erling Haaland named Manchester Unite his inspiration in the UEFA Champions League after watching the 2008 final clash.

The all-English final saw United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, with the celebration showing the seven-year-old Haaland what he wanted to be part of.