Manchester City have won the Champions League for the first time in their history – but their victory over Inter Milan was far from straightforward.
It was Rodri’s cool finish from a loose ball which broke the deadlock in the 68th minute before City needed goalkeeper Ederson to be at his best to make two crucial saves at the death. Speaking after the final whistle, City players made it clear that they did not play their best match, with Inter’s high press suffocating their attempts to build from the back.
As they stood on the brink of an historic Treble, it was understandable that their nerves might get the better of them. That was particularly evident in the first half, when the game struggled to get into any rhythm inside the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Inter frequently swarmed to the ball, forcing mistakes from City’s players, who could not get Erling Haaland into the game with regularity. To make matters worse, creative mainstay Kevin de Bruyne was forced off with a hamstring injury in the 36th minute.
That was where Pep Guardiola came into his own. The Manchester City manager was his usual animated self on the touchline and he could be seen screaming a specific message to his players: “Relax!”
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That message was needed, with Ederson’s stray pass out for a throw-in showing the nerves in the City players. It appeared to work, too, with City coming out after the break and getting some sort of control in the second half.
Pep Guardiola coached his players from the touchline (YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)The crucial moment came when Manuel Akanji played Bernardo Silva in down the right-hand side of the box. Silva’s attempted cross was deflected back into the path of Rodri, who was definitely relaxed when he stroked his finish past Andre Onana and two defenders in his way.
Guardiola hinted at his message to the players in a post-match interview with BT Sport. "They are really good. Be patient, I said at half-time,” he said. “You have to be lucky. Ederson or they miss it, they could draw. This competition is a coin.
"It was written in the stars. 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.”
Manchester City have won the Champions League for the first time (FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)Guardiola had a complete buy-in from his players. That was shown by the words of Kyle Walker after the game. Walker was left on the bench by his manager, but respected the decision and passed on confidence to his team-mates in the dressing room.
"I said my dream is in your hands. No pressure,” he explained when asked what he said to his team-mates before the game. “You can't say Inter deserved it more than we did or we deserved it more than they did. We're both here by merit. There has to be a loser.
"Emotions played a part. The occasion is obviously going to get to you. I got a silver one last time so to get a gold one is fantastic.”
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