By Muheeb Mashood
Abu Dhabi’s Manchester City have finally realized their European dream after clinching the UEFA Champions League title, thanks to a deserved 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the final at Istanbul on Saturday.
68th minute Rodri’s sensational goal was all Pep Guardiola needed to complete a remarkable treble, making him the first ever European manager to achieve the feat twice.
It could have been a case of deja vu, should City lose the showdown after their talisman, Kelvin De Bruyne picked up an injury in the 36th minute.
It has become the second time in three seasons that Kelvin De Bruyne left the pitch, departing a Champions League final when the game is balanced. First against rival Chelsea in the 2021 final.
Pep Guordiala’s men almost broke the deadlock after proving their dominance over Inter Milan, but Onana denied Erling Haaland from scoring inside the box as the first-half ended goalless.
The second half came ill-at-ease when Lukaku stepped up for an injured Edin Dzeko. The Nerazzurri could have led in the second half but Inter’s poacher got his shot blocked by Ederson’s after an howler from Manuel Akanji forced Guardiola to despair on the floor.
What a joy moment soon after! Akanji got his pass to Bernardo Silva whose cut-back deflected into the righteous position of Rodri. Guardiola’s key man handled the clinical finish to make his team title dream, scoring his second goal of the tournament after a stunning goal against Munich.
Inter fought for an equalizer but Dimarco’s header hitted the crossbar before his other one struck Lukaku’s leg in the dead minutes.
The threat increased as Robin Gosens passed the ball through a header to his hit man, a firm but not in the corner header handled an unforgettable glorious UCL save to the City’s goalkeeper, Ederson.
City Break a 24 years Record, Joined the Champions’ Race
After overtaking Arsenal in the English Premier League and beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley, Saturday’s night victory is remarkable as City sealed an amazing campaign, winning three titles in a single season.
Manchester City have now become the second English team to brace a treble after the Red Devil under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999.
The English club increased to six, after the Citizens joined Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in the UCL winner’s race, twice as many as any other nation.
Pep Guardiola Set New Record
Undoubtedly, Pep Guardiola has proved himself as one of the elite gaffers in the football managerial field. He has become the first coach to win a continental treble for two different teams. He ended several years of standstill since 2011, winning the cup again after a decade.
After bagging every trophy within four seasons between 2008-12 at Barca which includes two-times Champions League winner, he left for a German side Bayern Munich to continue his career. He also established himself and won many titles except the most famous European cup.
To demonstrate his prowess, he joined City in 2016, went trophy less in the first season. However, he led his side to win a Premier League title in the following year, breaking numerous domestic records, and became the first English team to win EPL with 100 points in a single season.
After several trials proved abortive, he granted City’s owner the wish of completing his trophy’s cabinet, filling it with UCL. As of 2023, Guardiola has won three consecutive, clinching five PL titles in six seasons, four League Cups and two FA Cups. He also led City to a domestic treble in 2019, their first-ever Champions League final in 2021, and their first Champions League title as part of another continental treble in 2023.
“Tired, calm, satisfied,” Guardiola told BT Sport. “This f***ing trophy, it’s so difficult to win it.”
“It’s impossible. It could have gone differently, we knew it, they are really good. Antonio Conte will learn a lot of what they do. It’s quite similar, They bring you up, they find strikers, link well to feet, then after they run to the other side. The first half we were anxious.
“It’s a question to be patient. Last time we were 1-0 down in Porto, this time, 0-0, you have to be lucky. Ederson’s save, they missed it. This competition is a coin. It was written in the stars. We did it,” Pep added.
Julian Alvarez became a decorated player at the young age as Phil Foden won everything with his mentor Guardiola and Ilkay Gundongan enjoyed his probably last season as a City’s captain while every member of the club jubilated to their new triumph.