SUN, JUNE 11 2023-theGBJournal | Manchester City become the second English team to ever win the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and the European Champions League, since Manchester United in 1998–99, beating the tenacious Inter Milan in Saturday’s final with a single goal slotted in by Rodri in 68th minute at Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey.
Saturday’s final represents the first competitive match between both teams in any competition but they have met twice in friendly matches.
In the first match Inter won by three goals to nil in the pre-season Pirelli Cup where Victor Obinna, Cristiano Biraghi, and a Joleon Lescott own goal were the deciding factors.
A year later, the Citizens replied with a 3-0 friendly win in Dublin, during which Dzeko netted and Mario Balotelli got the goals.
As for Pep Guardiola, he is the new chosen one. He built an all-conquering team that kept a clean sheet in 12 UEFA Champions League matches before tonight’s game, including five in six games in the knockout stages and equaled the record for most clean sheets in the knockout stages in a single edition of the tournament (six previously done by Arsenal in 2005/2006 seson).
He now seals his status as one of greatest managers as he has added to a third Champions League to the two he won at Barcelona.
Pep and his great players have etched their names in history, with so much to celebrate. After the 2021 heartbreak, City has finally claimed the one prize that has long eluded them.
It was never an easy game for both teams. But it was a night when only the result counted. Scrappy but calculating approach, both sides played with grit, less of dazzle or crowd pleasing.
City was edgy towards the closing minutes. Inter’s Lukaku gave the team and thousands of faithful supporters anxiety late in the game when he headed the ball straight at City’s goalkeeper, Edison to the relief of City fans worldwide.
Inter were compact, disciplined, and aggressive. They made City work hard to keep the ball. They pressed and kept them at bay. City didn’t look themselves all through the first half. There were misplaced passes, and at times they seemed not to have any idea what to do, which made Pep call for calm as the first half came to a close.
Halfway into the first half, it was deja vu for Kevin De Bruyne as he came down with an injury and had to be subbed off moments later.
City could’ve given Inter the early lead after a misplaced pass at the back, but Latauro Martinez failed to take advantage of the opportunity. Rodri later gave City the lead, and they held on to victory.
This was the sixth time that an English team has beaten an Italian team to win a major European trophy, and it also completed a streak of three losses for Italian teams in European finals this season.
Stats
Manchester City have now won 20 trophies since the Sheikh Mansour takeover in 2008:
◎ 7x Premier League
◎ 6x League Cup
◎ 3x FA Cup
◎ 3x Community Shield
◉ 1x Champions League
In his debut season in England, Erling Haaland has won:
Champions League
UCL Golden Boot
Premier League
PL Golden Boot
PL Player of the Season
PL Young Player of the Season
FWA Footballer of the Year
FA Cup
And he’s scored 52 goals.
Only four players have finished as the top scorer in the English top flight and the European Cup in the same season.
Dwight Yorke (98/99)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (02/03)
Cristiano Ronaldo (07/08)
Erling Haaland (22/23)
To cap it off, City banks €20 million from the staggering €2.032 billion ($2.032 billion) set aside by Uefa for the Champions League and the Super Cup, for winning in Istanbul. Plus the rewards of each win and share from TV revenue, City is about to be €86 million richer after the incredible run their season.
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