Manchester City defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Sunday. After the win, Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola said, "This final was written in the stars," as per the official website of Manchester City.
Manchester City clinched their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. Above that, they have become the second English club to complete a treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League in a single footballing season.
Earlier, in the 1998/99 season, Manchester United became the first English Club to win a treble under Sir Alex Ferguson.
After the final match, Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola said, "Sometimes it looks like this competition this year, this final was written in the stars," according to the official website of Manchester City.
He further complimented his goalkeeper Ederson, "The goal, the chances they had. Ederson's save where in extra-time you could lose the game."
Pep Guardiola becomes the first manager to win two trebles with two different teams. First with Barcelona in 2008/09 and then with Manchester City in 2022/23.
52-year-old Pep Guardiola said, "I will be the same person and we will be the same team and we will be the same Club. Today was our year, but in the past to do it of course we are incredibly satisfied to achieve something unique, the Treble for this club."
He added, "The feeling I have right now is we leave the Champions League and give credit to the five Premier Leagues. In seven years, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, Community Shields," as per the official website of Manchester City.
"That gives credit to what we have done. We have to win Europe to be considered one of the really good teams and we win it. Suffering, you could expect it because Inter is an exceptional team. Physicality that battles to win," said Guardiola.
He further went on to add, "Sometimes you need this type of luck that in the past, against Tottenham and in other games, the final against Chelsea, we didn't have it. Today we had it."
In the first half of the match, Manchester City looked a bit nervous with their playing style. Inter Milan had their plans worked out well in the first half but couldn't score a goal. Manchester City also struggled to find the net in the first half.
In the first half, Manchester City's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was forced off as he started to suffer from a hamstring injury. Phil Foden was sent in as his replacement.
In the second half, Manchester City switched their tactics, as defender John Stones was playing in the midfield and making crucial overlap runs.
Soon, Manchester City's efforts turned to give positive outcomes. In the 68th minute of the match, Rodri scored and gave Manchester City a 1-0 lead.
Inter Milan tried to give a quick reply but Federico Dimarco's header struck the post and the follow-up was blocked by teammate Romelu Lukaku.
Inter Milan tried every weapon in their arsenal but couldn't find the back of the net as Manchester City's goalkeeper Ederson denied them every time.
Manchester City took a total of seven shots out of which four were on target. Their possession on the ball during the game was 56 per cent. They completed a total of 512 passes with an accuracy of 86 per cent.
Inter Milan took 14 shots out of which only six were on target. Their possession on the ball during the game was 44 per cent. They completed a total of 384 passes with an accuracy of 82 per cent.
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