Pep Guardiola is the master of Europe once again, 12 years since he could last lay claim to that title, after guiding his Manchester City team to the Champions League title in a tense 1-0 win over Inter at Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium.
Guardiola, already twice a European champion as manager of Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, has had a long wait for this third title.
After defeating Manchester United for the second time at Wembley in 2011, Guardiola reached four consecutive semi-finals with Barcelona and Bayern Munich before a last 16 exit in his first season at City in 2017. Three straight quarter-final exits followed before the 2021 defeat to Chelsea in the final. Last season saw yet another semi-final defeat, this time to old nemesis Real Madrid, before this season’s title was finally won.
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Speaking to BT Sport after the match, Guardiola was in no mood to disguise the pleasure that the victory had brought him.
He said: “I am tired, calm. Satisfied. This f****** trophy is so hard to win. This competition is a coin (toss). It was written in the stars. It belongs to us.”
Speaking about the match itself, Guardiola was typically gracious of a vanquished foe, saying: “They are really, really good. They bring you up, they find the striker, they run. We had a free man in Stones but we were anxious, and we couldn’t find him.
“I think we are defending better in the box, we are not making mistakes as much, we are more solid. We had momentum. We maybe were not at our best level. After the World Cup the team made a step forward.”
Still plainly in ecstasy, Guardiola continued: “We’re going to celebrate in the hotel with family and friends. Monday the parade is in Manchester. With this competition, the Treble is so difficult.”
But the Spaniard couldn’t resist a shot at football’s governing body over what he perceives to be a an overly crowded footballing calendar.
He said: “Our players have international games now. Uefa and Fifa, think about it. The Premier League finished two or three weeks ago, now people have to come back. It’s too much. We will start from zero next seasonI don’t have any energy to think about next season, it’s impossible. We need a break, it’s too long.”
In his post-match press conference, Guardiola’s mood had shifted to something a bit more introspective.
He began by saying: “It looks like this competition this year, this final, was written in the stars. I am so happy but at the end they could have scored and we could have lost and I would be the same person, we would be the same club. Winning the first one is so difficult. Maybe in the future I’m not saying it will be easy but maybe more comfortable.”
He continued: “I was more over-happy after winning the FA Cup against Man United than today, but obviously I am incredibly satisfied.”
Asked about plans for next season, the City boss was reticent.
He said: “Don’t ask me about this, please. I need a break. My chairman told me the final next season is in London, I will not tell you my answer to him. I am looking forward to putting the three trophies on our bus on Monday, how nice it will be. There are teams who win the CL then disappear, we have to avoid that. Next year we have to work harder. Knowing me that is not going to happen, but I have to admit it is a big relief because now finally they can’t ask me whether I have to win the CL or not.”
Then the Spaniard sent out a joking warning to Real Madrid.
He said: “They are just 13 Champions Leagues away, so be careful Real Madrid because if you sleep we will catch you.”
The win over Inter lifts Guardiola into truly rarefied managerial air. Guardiola completed English football’s second ever treble, having already won the Premier League and FA Cup this season. He also became the first manager in history to win trebles with different clubs.
The Spaniard is also second all-time on the list of total Champions League/European Cup wins as a manager, behind only Carlo Ancelotti and equal with Liverpool icon Bob Paisley, and Real Madrid mastermind Zinedine Zidane.
It is also England’s 15th title, while City become the country’s sixth different European champion.
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