For decades, Manchester City fans could but dream of emulating the success of their famous rivals Manchester United.
But last night the team’s talented mega stars clinched a famous 1-0 victory against Inter Milan to be crowned champions of Europe for the first time in the club’s 143-year history.
It meant they had secured the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble – only the second English team to achieve the feat after United in 1999.
Manager Pep Guardiola, who was in tears at full-time, sealed the win with a passionate kiss with his wife Cristina as players, coaches and backroom staff celebrated on the pitch with their families. ‘It was written in the stars, this belongs to us and we did it,’ he said, as he admitted the game was much closer than he had anticipated.
City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, 22, celebrated with his girlfriend Isabel Johansen, 19. Draped in the Norwegian flag, he said: ‘To have this with my father and my mother here as well is fantastic.’
His emotional team-mate Jack Grealish thanked his family and ‘genius’ Guardiola, and said: ‘This is what I’ve worked for my whole life.’
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, celebrates with his wife Cristina Serra
City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, 22, celebrated with his girlfriend Isabel Johansen, 19
John Stones of Manchester City kisses the Champions League Trophy
Kyle Walker of Manchester City with his son after the UEFA Champions League
Pep Guardiola celebrates with his wife Cristina Serra and his daughter Maria Guardiola
It was a tense match, on a very warm night, and City had to ride their luck on several occasions. Goalkeeper Ederson made several heroic saves. But a fine finish from midfielder Rodri in the 68th-minute proved the difference. ‘I’m emotional. This is a dream come true,’ the 26-year-old goalscorer said.
The final whistle – blown after an agonising five minutes of injury time – sparked wild celebrations among 20,000 City fans in the stands and plunged the blue half of Manchester into delirium.
Also in the stands – for his first City match in 13 years – was the club’s owner Sheikh Mansour, 52, the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. Astonishingly, the final was only the second-ever competitive match he had watched since his Abu Dhabi United Group consortium bought City for £210 million in 2008. Unlike the club’s fans, who faced chaotic delays to get into the stadium, the 52-year-old sheik waltzed in ten minutes before kick-off, having arrived in Turkey on a private jet.
The club has been accused of breaching financial rules in its relentless pursuit for glory. Not that this mattered a jot to lifelong City fans in the stadium last night.
Stephen Hardy, 50, from Nantwich, Cheshire, said: ‘I grew up watching other teams doing this and never thought this would be us. My brother Rich has come across from Australia for this game. We are in dreamland.’
Engineer Neil Jackson, 57, from Preston, who arrived in Istanbul just five hours before kick-off, was in tears. He said: ‘I’ve waited a lifetime for this and to be here for it is fantastic. It’s the least the team, manager and all the backroom staff deserve.
Jack Grealish celebrates with his girlfriend and relatives after winning the UEFA Champions League final
Julian Alvarez of Manchester City and girlfriend Maria Emilia Ferrero pose with the UEFA Champions League trophy
Ilkay Gundogan (8) of Manchester City celebrates with his wife
Manchester City player Kevin de Bruyne, his wife Michele de Bruyne and two of their children pose with the trophy
Nathan Ake of Manchester City and his wife Kaylee Ramman pose for a photo with the winners medal
‘It’s been a hell of a long day and we had a mad rush to get to the ground and only made it through the help of some Turkish lads we met. Now we will have a few beers to celebrate and then head back to the airport.’
Former England striker and Match of the Day pundit Gary Lineker tweeted: ‘Champions League winners. Treble winners. What an extraordinary season for Man City. Congratulations to a superb football team.’
