Manchester City 'The Champions of Europe'

A First for Manchester City

Manchester City emerged victorious in a nail-biting Champions League final, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 and securing their first-ever European championship. This monumental win also marks the completion of a historic treble, as the team became the first English club since their city rivals Manchester United in 1998-99 to achieve this feat. Manchester City's treble consists of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles, all in the same season.

A Hard-Fought Road to Victory

The decisive goal was scored by midfielder Rodri in the 68th minute of the match, held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. City owner Sheikh Mansour was present at the stadium, witnessing his first competitive City game in almost 13 years. The team's achievement of a Champions League title has been a major goal since the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008.

Despite losing key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the first half, Manchester City pushed forward. The Belgian was replaced by Phil Foden after 35 minutes, marking the second time De Bruyne has had to leave a Champions League final early due to injury, with the first being in the 2021 defeat to Chelsea.

The game's only goal came after a tense first hour, with Manuel Akanji playing through Bernardo Silva, who reached the byline and cut back to Rodri. The Spaniard calmly placed the ball into the net, ultimately securing the victory for Manchester City.

In the final moments of the match, City goalkeeper Ederson made a phenomenal save at point-blank range from Romelu Lukaku, followed by another stop in the closing seconds of the game.

Guardiola's Third Champions League Victory

This win marked Pep Guardiola's third Champions League victory as a coach and his first since winning the trophy with Barcelona in 2011. It was also the second time he has won a treble, having done so with Barcelona in 2009. Guardiola had previously led Manchester City to the final in 2021, where they were defeated by Chelsea.

The team is set to have a parade in Manchester on Monday evening, where they will showcase all three trophies.

Manchester City's Journey to the Champions League

Group stage

September 6, 2022: Sevilla 0-4 Manchester City

September 14, 2022: Manchester City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

October 5, 2022: Manchester City 5-0 Copenhagen

October 11, 2022: Copenhagen 0-0 Manchester City

October 25, 2022: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Manchester City

November 2, 2022: Manchester City 3-1 Sevilla

Round of 16

February 22, 2023: RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City

March 14, 2023: Manchester City 7-0 RB Leipzig

Quarter-finals

April 11, 2023: Manchester City 3-0 Bayern Munich

April 19, 2023: Bayern Munich 1-1 Manchester City

Semi-finals

May 9, 2023: Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City

May 17, 2023: Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid

Final

June 10, 2023: Manchester City 1-0 Inter Milan

Key Moments and Reactions

Pep Guardiola: 'It was written in the stars'

When asked about winning Europe's premier competition once more, Guardiola expressed his exhaustion, satisfaction, and appreciation for the difficulty of the achievement. He praised Inter Milan's performance and acknowledged the role of luck in the competition. Guardiola also expressed concern about the demanding schedule faced by players, urging football authorities to consider the impact on athletes.

Rodri: 'We competed like animals'

An emotional Rodri described the victory as a dream come true for both the team and the fans. While admitting his own subpar performance in the first half, he praised his teammates' efforts and determination throughout the match.

Ilkay Gundogan: 'It was probably a 50-50 game - we feel very fortunate'

Gundogan remarked on the challenging nature of the match and expressed gratitude for the outcome. He acknowledged the pressure surrounding the treble and praised the team's ability to handle it.

Erling Haaland: 'In finals, the only thing is winning'

Haaland expressed his disbelief at the victory, citing it as proof that dreams can come true even for those from humble beginnings. While admitting that he could have performed better, he emphasized the importance of winning as a team.

John Stones: 'I'm so proud to play a part in history'

Stones expressed his pride at being part of the historic treble-winning team and thanked the fans for their unwavering support.

Jack Grealish: 'I was awful but I don't care'

Grealish admitted to a subpar performance but emphasized the importance of the team's overall success in achieving the treble. He also expressed gratitude to Guardiola for his faith in him and called him a "genius."

Kyle Walker: 'This club means so much to me'

Walker, who did not start the match but played a role later on, expressed his deep connection to the club and his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the historic victory.

Football World Reacts

Former players and football personalities, including Rio Ferdinand, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, and Pablo Zabaleta, took to social media to congratulate Manchester City on their remarkable achievement and historic treble.