It’s often said that you can’t win trophies with young players, but some of the stars of this season’s UEFA Champions League have proven otherwise.
So we took a look at which youngsters could decide Saturday’s final between Manchester City FC and FC Internazionale Milano.
ADVERTISEMENT: With its Next In Line series, FedEx shed light on the best young players making waves in Europe this season.
Erling Haaland
No wonder he tops our list, but this final will surely be Erling Haaland’s and we expect him to have a big impact on the result.
The 22-year-old broke a record straight away in his first season at Manchester City by scoring 36 Premier League goals. He has also cracked twelve times in ten UEFA Champions League appearances.
In some games it sometimes seems like it’s a bit out of the way, but give it some space and the ball will land in your net. It doesn’t matter if it’s with the left, the right or the header, Inter’s defenders have to be incredibly careful.
Phil Foden
It’s been a season of ups and downs for Phil Foden but of course his class is undeniable and after battling injury he seems to be getting closer to peak form.
As he can be used anywhere in the attacking line, the native may not have made as many starts, but he has shown he can create goals and assists as a wildcard.
UEFA Champions League finals are often closed affairs where small details make the difference. When you need someone with a magic moment to break through tight defenses, Foden is your man.
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Alessandro Bastoni
Inter are not a team with an excessive number of young talents, but Alessandro Bastoni has quickly established himself as one of Europe’s best defenders.
Playing mainly on the left side of the back three under Simone Inzaghi, his speed, technical ability and passing skills make him a perfect player for this specific role.
As if that weren’t enough, the 24-year-old has even managed the most assists (3) of any Inter player in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Rico Lewis
What could be more exciting for fans than a local player training in front of them and then making it into the pro team?
Meet Rico Lewis: Born in Bury, he joined City aged eight and has made a name for himself this season. He plays regularly under Pep Guardiola.
He plays as a right-back or in defensive midfield and is already showing that he can compete at the professional level. He could also be the first player to win the treble in his debut season.
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