Insight and opinion from The National’s editorial leadership
June 11, 2023
On Saturday night, Manchester City defeated Inter Milan to win their first Uefa Champions League title, the pinnacle of European club football. The English Premier League team’s 1-0 victory against the Italian side in Istanbul is a joyful reminder that in sport, just as in life, nothing is certain.
It is also a testament of how a grand vision, backed by consistent dedication, long-term planning and sound financial support, can transform the fortunes of an historic club, which for about three decades had not much going for it beyond a large and loyal base of diehard fans.
City were languishing in the lower half of the Premier League table in 2008 when they were taken over by Abu Dhabi United Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court. In the 20 years prior to the purchase, they had been relegated five times, dropping as far down as English football’s third tier in 1998. Even worse, from a fans’ standpoint, it was a time when their crosstown rivals Manchester United were among Europe’s most successful teams.
City’s supporters often sang Blue Moon, a defiant but melancholic song, when their team performed poorly on the football pitch – as they routinely did throughout the 1980s and 90s.
However, what followed was a gradual transformation. As Nick March, an assistant editor-in-chief at The National and a lifelong supporter of the “Citizens”, once wrote, City went from being “a football club clad in oak-panelled dysfunction and disagreement” to a “slick corporate giant of the modern era”.
A vision was set, a team was assembled, and money was spent judiciously towards the long-term rejuvenation of the club. While some of the best players in the world were acquired in the short term, more lasting structures were put in place, including the further development of Etihad Stadium, and the inauguration of Etihad Campus and its associated academy. The club, along with Manchester City Council, funded a community hub and leisure centre that have played a part in the region’s long-term redevelopment initiative. In Pep Guardiola, City found a manager who subscribed to their aspirations and was given the time, support and freedom to build a team with a clearly defined playing style.
Fans cheer at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi as Manchester City win the Champions League. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Yas Mall's Town Square hosted a special screening of the final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Mascots at the event. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Emirati Mohamed Al Alattas watches the match. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Emirati Ali Mohamed was at the event. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Jordanian Mustafa Tawfia shows his colours. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Emirati Saif Al Belooshi takes in the action. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Fans at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi watch Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League final. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Manchester City fans celebrate the victory at Barasti Beach in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan watch the game at Barasti in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan watch the game at Barasti in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan watch the game at Barasti in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan watch the game at Barasti in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Football fans of Man City and Inter Milan watching the game at Barasti Beach in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan watch the game at Barasti in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Man City fans celebrate the win vs Inter Milan at Barasti Beach in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Contrary to a widespread misconception that new ownership and money can bring football clubs instant success, City’s titles did not come overnight. In fact, it wasn’t until four years after the takeover that they lifted their first Premier League trophy. The club’s consistency since – it has won seven Premier League titles, three FA Cups and six League Cups over the past decade and some – is nothing but a testimony to the foresightedness of its custodians. Now they can add the Champions League to that roll of honour.
Sheikh Mansour, who was at Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium to witness the fruits of this foresight, tweeted: “My congratulations and gratitude to our loyal Manchester City fans, and everyone at the Club, including management, technical staff and players. We will continue to define and celebrate our success together.” His continued support has meant a team filled with confidence for the future.
Success on Saturday night was historic. City have become only the second English club, after United in 1999, to win “the treble” – lifting the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup trophies in a single season.
Despite all this success, City fans continue to sing Blue Moon, perhaps as a reminder to themselves of a not-too-distant past when their team wasn’t winning games, let alone titles. Be that as it may, what is beyond doubt is that the proverbial blue moon has well and truly risen and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Key findings of Jenkins report
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
