Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, left, and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with the Champions League trophy. PA
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, left, and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with the Champions League trophy. PA
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, left, and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with the Champions League trophy. PA
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, left, and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with the Champions League trophy. PA

Sport

Football

Guardiola dedicates Champions League triumph to Sheikh Mansour and Man City bosses

City became European champions for the first time on Saturday night with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan

John McAuley
John McAuley

June 11, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Pep Guardiola dedicated Manchester City’s first Champions League success to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and the club’s hierarchy.

The English side, already Premier League champions and FA Cup winners, sealed their first European Cup on Saturday night when they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul.

READ MORE

Man City set for era of European dominance following Champions League victory

In doing so, City became only the second club to complete that particular treble, after rivals Manchester United in 1999.

The victory represented arguably the crowning glory in City’s trophy-laden spell since the takeover in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour

City had reached the Champions League final before, for the first time two years ago, but were beaten then 1-0 by Chelsea.

However, after Rodri’s second-half strike clinched the trophy, Guardiola paid tribute to City’s owners, who were in attendance at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

“One of the main reasons why this club became what we are is because of the people from Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour, took over the club,” Guardiola said. “Without that, we would not be here.

“They are the most important people. They supported me unconditionally in the defeats in this competition – when that happens at other clubs, you are sacked, and it was the complete opposite.

“I give incredible credit to my hierarchy – my chairman [Khaldoon Al Mubarak] my CEO [Ferran Soriano], my sporting director [Txiki Begiristain] – because like this they have given a message to the players, all of you [in the media], the fans, to say, 'This is the way'.

Champions League final player ratings

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8. Had a couple of shaky moments in the first half, but made the biggest save of the game with his legs to deny Lukaku late on, and again to deny a header at the death. Getty
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8. Had a couple of shaky moments in the first half, but made the biggest save of the game with his legs to deny Lukaku late on, and again to deny a header at the death. Getty
Manuel Akanji - 6. Took matters into his own hands by taking aim from long range on the stroke of half time, but he failed to keep his effort on target. Breathed a huge sigh of relief after Martinez failed to beat Ederson from close range due to his error. EPA
Manuel Akanji - 6. Took matters into his own hands by taking aim from long range on the stroke of half time, but he failed to keep his effort on target. Breathed a huge sigh of relief after Martinez failed to beat Ederson from close range due to his error. EPA
Ruben Dias - 7. Made an inch-perfect tackle to stop Dzeko from running through on goal in the 14th minute. Made a last-ditch clearance after Dimarco’s effort came off the crossbar in the second half. Getty
Ruben Dias - 7. Made an inch-perfect tackle to stop Dzeko from running through on goal in the 14th minute. Made a last-ditch clearance after Dimarco’s effort came off the crossbar in the second half. Getty
Nathan Ake - 7. Coming off the back of an injury, Ake provided an assured display at left-back and dealt well with the threat of Dumfries. Did well to intercept Barella’s first-time cross into the danger area with his head in the 14th minute. Getty
Nathan Ake - 7. Coming off the back of an injury, Ake provided an assured display at left-back and dealt well with the threat of Dumfries. Did well to intercept Barella’s first-time cross into the danger area with his head in the 14th minute. Getty
John Stones - 8. An impeccable performance from Stones in his new hybrid role. The Englishman defended well and stepped into midfield to help mop up counterattacks. AFP
John Stones - 8. An impeccable performance from Stones in his new hybrid role. The Englishman defended well and stepped into midfield to help mop up counterattacks. AFP
Rodri - 8. Was having a tough game due to his inability to help City dictate play from the middle of the field. He turned things around by grabbing the final’s solitary goal with a low effort from the edge of the penalty area. AFP
Rodri - 8. Was having a tough game due to his inability to help City dictate play from the middle of the field. He turned things around by grabbing the final’s solitary goal with a low effort from the edge of the penalty area. AFP
Bernardo Silva - 7. Not as influential in attack as he was against Real Madrid in the semi-final. Had the first attempt at goal in the final, but he failed to find the top corner with his effort. Had a hand in the goal as his cross was deflected into the path of Rodri to sweep home. EPA
Bernardo Silva - 7. Not as influential in attack as he was against Real Madrid in the semi-final. Had the first attempt at goal in the final, but he failed to find the top corner with his effort. Had a hand in the goal as his cross was deflected into the path of Rodri to sweep home. EPA
Jack Grealish - 6. Not one of his best outings for Pep Guardiola’s side, but he did well to limit Dumfries’ forays forward. Took the wrong decision to have an effort at goal when he had the chance to whip in a dangerous cross into the penalty area halfway through the first half. PA
Jack Grealish - 6. Not one of his best outings for Pep Guardiola’s side, but he did well to limit Dumfries’ forays forward. Took the wrong decision to have an effort at goal when he had the chance to whip in a dangerous cross into the penalty area halfway through the first half. PA
Kevin De Bruyne - 6. Slipped when he had the first real chance to link up with Haaland around the Inter Milan penalty area in the 24th minute. Unlucky to be forced off with an injury on the biggest night of his career in the 35th minute. AFP
Kevin De Bruyne - 6. Slipped when he had the first real chance to link up with Haaland around the Inter Milan penalty area in the 24th minute. Unlucky to be forced off with an injury on the biggest night of his career in the 35th minute. AFP
Ilkay Gundogan - 6, A quiet but solid game from Gundogan in the middle of the field. The German was forced to sit deep and help the Premier League champions control proceedings from deep. AFP
Ilkay Gundogan - 6, A quiet but solid game from Gundogan in the middle of the field. The German was forced to sit deep and help the Premier League champions control proceedings from deep. AFP
Erling Haaland - 6, A rare night without a goal for Haaland, but he kept the Italians backline on their toes for 90 minutes. Had his first attempt on goal in the 26th minute, but Onana was equal to his effort. Getty
Erling Haaland - 6, A rare night without a goal for Haaland, but he kept the Italians backline on their toes for 90 minutes. Had his first attempt on goal in the 26th minute, but Onana was equal to his effort. Getty
SUBS: Phil Foden (De Bruyne, 38') - 6. Had a good chance to put the game to bed, but failed to beat Onana when he was played through on goal in the 78th minute. Reuters
SUBS: Phil Foden (De Bruyne, 38') - 6. Had a good chance to put the game to bed, but failed to beat Onana when he was played through on goal in the 78th minute. Reuters
Kyle Walker (Stones, 82) - N/A. The right-back helped City hold on to the lead as the Italians searched for an equaliser. EPA
Kyle Walker (Stones, 82) - N/A. The right-back helped City hold on to the lead as the Italians searched for an equaliser. EPA
INTER MILAN RATINGS: Andre Onana - 7. Called into action for the first time by Haaland in the 26th minute, and he provided a good save to keep the tie level. Stopped Foden from making it two with a fantastic save in the second half. AFP
INTER MILAN RATINGS: Andre Onana - 7. Called into action for the first time by Haaland in the 26th minute, and he provided a good save to keep the tie level. Stopped Foden from making it two with a fantastic save in the second half. AFP
Matteo Darmian - 6. Had a good game except for one costly error. Could have done better to close up the space Rodri had in the build-up to the English side’s decisive goal. EPA
Matteo Darmian - 6. Had a good game except for one costly error. Could have done better to close up the space Rodri had in the build-up to the English side’s decisive goal. EPA
Francesco Acerbi - 8. Brilliant on the night as he stayed close to Haaland and ensured the Norwegian didn’t get enough clear-cut chances to do the damage. AFP
Francesco Acerbi - 8. Brilliant on the night as he stayed close to Haaland and ensured the Norwegian didn’t get enough clear-cut chances to do the damage. AFP
Alessandro Bastoni - 7. Did well to block Stones’s cross in the 63rd minute. Showed tremendous composure to stop Haaland from running through on goal in the 67th minute. Getty
Alessandro Bastoni - 7. Did well to block Stones’s cross in the 63rd minute. Showed tremendous composure to stop Haaland from running through on goal in the 67th minute. Getty
Denzel Dumfries - 5. Not at his attacking best on the night and was beaten on a number of occasions by Grealish in defence. Brought a good attacking move to an end with his indecisiveness in the first half. AP
Denzel Dumfries - 5. Not at his attacking best on the night and was beaten on a number of occasions by Grealish in defence. Brought a good attacking move to an end with his indecisiveness in the first half. AP
Federico Dimarco - 7. Crucial to Inter Milan’s attacking play in the first half as he repeatedly played in dangerous crosses. Thought he had grabbed an equaliser in the 70th minute, but his header came off the bar. AP
Federico Dimarco - 7. Crucial to Inter Milan’s attacking play in the first half as he repeatedly played in dangerous crosses. Thought he had grabbed an equaliser in the 70th minute, but his header came off the bar. AP
Marcelo Brozovic - 7. A good performance from the experienced Croatian in the middle of the field. He helped the Italians stop City from playing their free-flowing football. Blazed an effort high and wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 19th minute. AP
Marcelo Brozovic - 7. A good performance from the experienced Croatian in the middle of the field. He helped the Italians stop City from playing their free-flowing football. Blazed an effort high and wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 19th minute. AP
Nicolo Barella - 6. Lacked the quality to provide the final touch or pass in attack. Would feel he could have done better when he failed to hit the target with a first-time effort after pouncing on an Ederson error. AFP
Nicolo Barella - 6. Lacked the quality to provide the final touch or pass in attack. Would feel he could have done better when he failed to hit the target with a first-time effort after pouncing on an Ederson error. AFP
Hakan Calhanoglu - 4. A near-invisible performance from the Turkish midfielder on a night the Italians needed him to help unlock Guardiola’s backline. He struggled to create openings for his teammates. AFP
Hakan Calhanoglu - 4. A near-invisible performance from the Turkish midfielder on a night the Italians needed him to help unlock Guardiola’s backline. He struggled to create openings for his teammates. AFP
Lautaro Martinez - 4. Another player that could have done better with his decision-making on a big night. Aimed for goal and failed to beat Ederson when he could have passed the ball to Lukaku or Brozovic. AFP
Lautaro Martinez - 4. Another player that could have done better with his decision-making on a big night. Aimed for goal and failed to beat Ederson when he could have passed the ball to Lukaku or Brozovic. AFP
Edin Dzeko - 5. Worked hard and brought his teammates into play with excellent hold-up play in the first half, but Manchester City defenders took advantage of his lack of pace to stop him. AP
Edin Dzeko - 5. Worked hard and brought his teammates into play with excellent hold-up play in the first half, but Manchester City defenders took advantage of his lack of pace to stop him. AP
SUBS: Romelu Lukaku (Dzeko,57') - 3. Unlucky to unknowingly block Dimarco’s goal-bound effort in the 70th minute. Forced Ederson into a routine save two minutes later. Should have brought the Italians level, but he could only head straight at Ederson when he had the whole goal to aim at. AFP
SUBS: Romelu Lukaku (Dzeko,57') - 3. Unlucky to unknowingly block Dimarco’s goal-bound effort in the 70th minute. Forced Ederson into a routine save two minutes later. Should have brought the Italians level, but he could only head straight at Ederson when he had the whole goal to aim at. AFP
Robin Gosens (Bastoni, 76) - N/A. Overcooked his cross when he had the chance to find a blue and black jersey in the penalty area. Did well to find Lukaku with a header into the danger area in the 89th minute. AFP
Robin Gosens (Bastoni, 76) - N/A. Overcooked his cross when he had the chance to find a blue and black jersey in the penalty area. Did well to find Lukaku with a header into the danger area in the 89th minute. AFP
Raoul Bellanova (Dumfries, 76) - N/A. Put in a number of crosses after coming on, one of which led to Lukaku’s headed chance that he failed to convert. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Calhanoglu, 84) - N/A. Danilo D’ Ambrosio (Damian, 84) - N/A. AFP
Raoul Bellanova (Dumfries, 76) - N/A. Put in a number of crosses after coming on, one of which led to Lukaku’s headed chance that he failed to convert. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Calhanoglu, 84) - N/A. Danilo D’ Ambrosio (Damian, 84) - N/A. AFP

“But honestly, I'm not going to get confused by the fact that we could have lost today and it still would have been the same [support].”

Appointed in 2016, Guardiola has gone on to lead City to five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and now the Champions League trophy.

Having finally added the one elusive crown to his already-impressive City haul, Guardiola said: “You have to win in Europe to be considered a great team and we did it.”

The Spaniard, who twice as a manager guided Barcelona to Champions League success, said the challenge now will be to build a dynasty in European football.

“I don’t want to disappear after one Champions League,” Guardiola said. “We have to work hard next season and be there.

“There are teams who win the Champions League and disappear. We have to avoid that. Knowing me it is not going to happen, but it is a big relief to have this trophy.

“It looks like this competition this year was [written] in the stars. Now is time to celebrate. I am looking forward to Monday in Manchester on our [open-top bus] parade with three trophies.”

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')

Chelsea 0

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How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
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Updated: June 11, 2023, 7:13 AM`
Pep GuardiolaManchester CityChampions League