Manchester City has won the UEFA Champions League, ending the long wait that started in 2008 following the acquisition of the club by Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group.
The English side piped Inter Milan 1-0 to win the much-coveted title for the first time, after several attempts. It was midfielder Rodri, who struck after 68 minutes to give City the lead and eventually the win.
“Emotional. A dream come true. All these guys around here waited I don’t know how many years. They deserve, we deserve,” Rodri told BT Sport.
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“It wasn’t easy. What a team we faced, the way they defend and counter-attack. Finals are like this. Emotions and nerves are there. We competed like animals.”
Champions of Europe, you made us sing that! ?#ManCity | #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/2CevTDN3UT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 10, 2023
Man City has risen to become the dominant force in the English Premier League – under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. The club has now won 17 trophies since the 2008 takeover, including seven league titles. Guardiola has delivered 12 major trophies for City since 2016 but struggled to win Europe’s most prestigious trophy even after repeatedly coming close.
“My congratulations and gratitude to our loyal Manchester City fans, and everyone at the Club, including management, technical staff and players. We will continue to define and celebrate our success together,” Mansour tweeted after the game.
The Champions League title completes Man City’s treble quest, making it the only club to achieve the feat after Manchester United in England. Guardiola also became the first coach to win a treble twice – with different clubs, having done so with Barcelona in 2009.
Man City’s success has been largely attributed to Guardiola’s ingenuity. The Spaniard, who joined City from Bayern Munich in 2016, said a few things after the game.
“This trophy is so difficult to win. It could not be different and we knew it, firstly because they [Inter Milan] are really good.
“The first half we were so anxious. We could not find the free man, John Stones. But it was a question of being patient. I said at half-time, last time, in Porto, we were 1-0 down, now it’s 0-0. We adjusted some things but you have to be lucky in this competition.
“This competition is a coin [toss]. But we were there. I think it was written in the stars this season that it belonged to us and we did it.
“I think we defended a little bit better [than in 2021] in the box. We have four central defenders, proper defenders. Even when we make mistakes, we have the feeling we are solid.
“We didn’t make a bad game. A little bit anxious in the first half but in general it was not bad. The momentum started winning the Premier League, then the FA Cup, and now we finish here.
“Winning this competition and the treble is so difficult, and that’s why today is not important the way, it’s just to do it.”
Guardiola said he wants City to sustain its winning mentality.
“I don’t want us to disappear after one Champions League,” he said.
“We have to work harder. There are teams that win the Champions League and then disappear – we have to avoid that. Knowing me, that won’t happen. It’s a big relief for the club, for the institution to win this trophy. Finally, people won’t ask me if I’m going to win the Champions League or not.
“Winning five Premier Leagues is exceptional but people have said no, you have to win trebles every season to be complete. I’m good but I’m not good enough to win trebles every season. The Champions League is so tough. Real Madrid have the ability to do it year in, year out. People pretend the Premier League is nothing. Now we can get credit for the five Premier Leagues.
“To do what we have done in the last six seasons is unbelievable. It’s not just the Champions League – it’s many, many titles.”