Man City brace for Inter reunion as Akanji fears tough schedule

Man City's Phil Foden (left) in action against Raoul Bellanova of Inter Milan. [AFP]

Manchester City are braced for their Champions League reunion with Inter Milan at the start of an expanded tournament that will be “so tough” for the 2023 winners.

Pep Guardiola’s side beat Inter 1-0 in the final two seasons ago as Rodri’s goal clinched their first Champions League crown on a memorable night in Istanbul.

Inter visit the Etihad Stadium today in City’s first experience of the competition’s new format, in which 36 teams compete in one table and play eight fixtures each instead of the traditional group stage with six matches.

City defender Manuel Akanji is not a fan of the new model because of the extra burden it will place on players in a gruelling season which will conclude with Guardiola’s men competing in the Club World Cup in the United States.

“It’s getting more complicated with the league. You play different teams, and then Inter don’t have the same opponents as us. It’s just got bigger, more games,” Akanji said.

“Then we have the Club World Cup at the end of the season. It’s just game after game and I don’t know how it will work out over the next couple of years.

“It’s so tough, you don’t just think about this season but also next season. When do we do holidays? There are no breaks in winter.

“If we are lucky we get two weeks and then we need to be back and into next season.

“There’s no end to it. I don’t know how it works out. Maybe I’ll retire at 30!”

Despite his complaints, the 29-year-old Akanji is relishing the chance to face Inter again after that treble-winning triumph 15 months ago.

It will be fascinating to see how Guardiola goes about competing for another European title and a fifth successive Premier League crown amid the financial breaches case that could plunge the club into turmoil.

The independent commission hearing into 115 Premier League charges of alleged financial breaches against City began on Monday.

City strongly deny any wrongdoing but potentially face a severe points deduction or even expulsion from the league if the verdict, which is not expected until 2025, finds them guilty.

In the meantime, City extended their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 win against Brentford on Saturday.

Significantly Rodri played his first 45 minutes of the season in the second half after a hamstring injury suffered in the Euro 2024.