Manchester City claim the treble after winning the maiden UEFA Champions League trophy in their history
Manchester City scraped their way to a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul to add the Champions League to their Premier League and FA Cup trophy collection this year.
Manchester City were made to fight, scrap, and toil hard in the UEFA Champions League final but Pep Guardiola’s side came out on top with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul. A second half strike from Rodri helped City win the very first Champions League trophy in their history and they also became only the second club from England to win the elusive and prestigious treble after this season’s Premier League and FA Cup triumphs.
It proved to be a dogged and lacklustre night in the final as both sides struggled to battle territory. City’s usual flow when in possession was hampered by the Nerazzurri’s combative tendencies in the middle of the park and their midfielders were often put off their usual game.
The side from Manchester also suffered a massive blow when star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with an injury in the 35th minute, almost similar to how he had to be taken off in the Champions League final two years ago which they lost 1-0 to Premier League rivals Chelsea.
This time, however, the script was different as City sealed the game with a strong strike from Rodri in the 68th minute with one of their few shots on target to take the final trophy that they had been hunting for so long.
Sheikh Mansour, attending only his second City match since taking over the club in 2008, may have to expand the trophy cabinet in his office at the ministry of presidential affairs in Abu Dhabi.
He is said to have replica of every piece of silverware won during his tenure in a glass box. The Champions League trophy now joins the seven Premier League titles, three FA Cups and six Football League Cups won during his tenure.
It may be only the second piece of European silverware won by City in the club’s 140-year history, after their 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup, but this victory could well mark the turning of a new page in English football.
City have now become the 23rd club to win the UEFA Champions League or its precursor, the European Cup and they have been dominant on the continental level for several years, especially since the arrival of manager Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola, on his part, won his first Champions League trophy since spearheading Barcelona to triumph in 2011 and this is his third Champions League success overall. Moreover, the Spaniard has also become the first and only manager to win two trebles - with Barcelona in 2009 and with Manchester City in 2023.
“It was written in the stars,” Guardiola said in a post-match interview. “It belongs to us. We weren’t at our best level. After the World Cup the team made a step forward and we were there. It wasn’t our best performance.”
Asked how he was feeling, he added: “Tired, calm, satisfied of course … this fucking trophy, it’s so difficult to win it. It’s a question of being patient and you have to be lucky.”
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