Manchester City got a 1-0 against Inter Milan in Istanbul’s Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium on Saturday to clinch their first-ever Champions League trophy after Rodri curled in a strike in the 68th minute to get the win. 

Pep Guardiola was at the helm of affairs, guiding his side every step of the way, being his overly enthusiastic self on the touchline. He has now won 14 major trophies since joining Manchester City in 2016 – they include five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, two Community Shields and one Champions League.

City added the UCL trophy to their Premier League and FA Cup successes, thereby getting the treble. Pep took City to the club’s first-ever Champions League final in 2021, which they lost to Chelsea. Hunted by that memory Pep made sure his side did not pass up an opportunity at redemption. It was his 300th win for Manchester City. Pep will go down as one of the best coaches to grace football.

Rodri scored the only goal of the game for the Cityzens. Ederson restored himself after a turbulent start to the game by producing two important saves, denying Romelu Lukaku and Robin Gosens at the death, protecting his sides one goal lead and winning the trophy. Fans from far and wide jubilated at the sound of the final whistle.

As it happened…

At the sound of the whistle, Kevin De Bruyne got right into business with an attempt to set up Haaland, who shot a left-footed strike over the bar. Not long after, Silva was inches away from putting City ahead in the sixth minute but it was not to be.

Inter then got underway moving high up the pitch, pressing City’s defence and limiting their possession. For the better part of the first half, Inter denied City the space in the final third.

Inzaghi’s men put up a disciplined effort at the back, limiting the threat City is known for. City struggled to settle down, which saw the coach of the side, Pep Guardiola calling on his men to relax! In the 36th minute, City’s playmaker Kevin De Bruyne was subbed off following a Hamstring injury.

At half-time, the game remained goalless, but that soon changed in the 62nd minute of the second half when Rodri capitalised on a loose ball and curled the ball past two men on the line into the back of the net. City went on to defend better in the box and made sure to keep Inter out.

Inter Milan continued their search for an equaliser but just could not get past City to find the back of the net. Romelu Lukaku had a lot of chances gone begging, Federico Dimarco also struck the bar, and Robin Gosens tried to get one at the death but all to no avail. City held their own and eventually held the trophy.

Now for some Pepistory (Pep-history)

• Pep Guardiola is the first coach ever to win the European Treble on multiple occasions 🏆

Barcelona 2008-09

🏆 LaLiga

🏆 Copa del Rey

🏆 UCL

Manchester City 2022-23 

🏆 Premier League

🏆 FA Cup

🏆 UCL

• Six managers have won the Champions League with two different clubs:

◎ Ernst Happel

◎ Ottmar Hitzfeld

◎ José Mourinho

◎ Jupp Heynckes

◎ Carlo Ancelotti

◉ Pep Guardiola

Post-match reactions.

Pep Guardiola :

“This trophy is so difficult to win,” said Guardiola. It could not be different and we knew it, firstly because they are really good.

“The first half we were so anxious. We could not find the free man, John Stones. But it was a question of being patient. I said at half-time, last time, in Porto, we were 1-0 down, now it’s 0-0. We adjusted some things but you have to be lucky in this competition.

” This competition is a coin [toss]. But we were there. I think it was written in the stars this season that it belonged to us and we did it…”

Goalscorer and match-winner Rodri:

It’s emotional. A dream come true. All these guys around here waited I don’t know how many years,” 

They deserve it, we deserve it. The last years we were so close. I just want to thank everyone. It wasn’t easy. What a team we faced, the way they defend and counter-attack.

“We gave everything. Finals are like this. You can’t expect to play as well as always. Emotions and nerves are there. We competed like animals. It’s a dream. This moment will never happen again.”

Captain of Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan said:

“This is a really proud moment for everyone at this football club,” he said. “We work so hard every single day, and we have wanted to win this trophy for so long.

“The Champions League is a beautiful competition, and we are all incredibly happy to have won. This team deserves the highest recognition and winning the Champions League elevates us to the very top of the game.

“And to win the Treble is something amazing. It is the ultimate achievement for any club team, and we have done it. It reflects the quality we have in our squad, but it also shows how dedicated we are.

“I want to thank the Manchester City fans for their support this season. I can honestly say that we could not have done this without them. They have been amazing, and they deserve this moment.”