Manchester City has solidified its position as one of soccer’s most prominent clubs after an extraordinary achievement: winning the Champions League and securing a rare treble. Captain Ilkay Gundogan expressed his pride in the team’s accomplishment, while an emotional Jack Grealish praised manager Pep Guardiola as a brilliant strategist.
The players were overcome with emotion after Rodri’s sensational goal in the second half secured a 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the final, granting Manchester City their first-ever Champions League title. This triumph comes on the heels of their earlier victories in the Premier League and FA Cup last month.
Gundogan shared his elation with BT Sport, stating, “Unbelievable. It’s hard to put into words. Today, we made history. This team deserves immense recognition, and winning the Champions League propels us to the pinnacle of the sport. We were aware of the discussions surrounding the treble, and although there was pressure, this team is built to handle it in the best possible way.”
Grealish, who joined City from Aston Villa for a record-breaking 100 million pounds ($126 million) in 2021, has been a standout performer this season and was overwhelmed with emotion at the final whistle. He exclaimed, “This is what you dedicate your entire life to. I am incredibly happy. I may not have performed well today, but that doesn’t matter. I just expressed my gratitude to Guardiola, telling him, ‘Thank you for making this happen for me. You had so much faith in me, investing such a significant sum.’ Even during my struggles last year, he stood by me, and this year, he provided me with a platform… He’s truly a genius.”
Looking ahead, striker Erling Haaland has already set his sights on more triumphs in the next season, cautioning rivals that the treble has only increased his hunger for trophies. Haaland, who led City’s attack with an impressive 52 goals this season, stated, “I couldn’t have imagined this even in my wildest dreams. Once this settles down a bit and the euphoria of winning this trophy subsides, I will undoubtedly strive to achieve it again. We must defend what we have accomplished this season. That’s how the game goes. In a month, everything will be forgotten, and we will have to start anew.”
Despite the absence of their chief playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who was forced off the field with a hamstring injury in the first half, City triumphed. Haaland and his teammates offered consolation to De Bruyne, who expressed his sentiments to reporters, saying, “This is what I’ve been fighting for throughout many years. It’s incredible that we were able to achieve this with Manchester City. This is a historic moment for the club, and we will forever be associated with it. It’s truly special.”
