CITY PLAYERS 'ARE TOP QUALITY"

De Vrij insists Inter have to defend as a team and not just focus on Haaland

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Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij warned that Manchester City "are not just (Erling) Haaland" ahead of the sides' Champions League reunion 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.

While Haaland was not on the scoresheet that night, he was instrumental in City's historic treblewinning 2022-23 campaign and has looked in ominous form this season.

He has scored nine times in City's first four English Premier League matches, including backto-back hat-tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham United.

Speaking ahead of his side's visit to the Etihad on Sept 18, Dutch defender de Vrij said that there is more to City than their Norwegian forward, adding: "All the players they have are top quality. We have to prepare as best we can to both defend and attack as a team. These are big matches for us as defenders. We'll try to defend as a team."

Haaland could overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a single club, having scored 99 goals in 103 appearances in all competitions.

Ronaldo netted 100 in 105 matches for Real Madrid.