Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola finally overcame his outstanding challenge by winning the Champions League on Saturday. Having won two Champions League titles with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, the European trophy had eluded him during his three seasons at Bayern and seven at Manchester City.
Guardiola capped an exceptional season by lifting the trophy after defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final in Istanbul, thus completing the treble this season, having also won the Premier League and the FA Cup.
The Catalan coach put an end to the supposed curse and proved that he could win the Champions League without the likes of Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi, whom he had at Barcelona. With a smile, Guardiola told BT Sport: “I’m tired, calm, and satisfied, but how difficult it is to win this damn trophy!.” He acknowledged that the match was tense in the first half but stressed that his team was patient and that the destination was written: “The trophy is for us.”
Guardiola said that after the treble, it is time to celebrate and not think about next season yet. He thanked City’s owner, Emirati Sheikh Mansour, for his patience and for giving him credit until he achieved the long-awaited Champions League title in his seventh season.
At a press conference, Guardiola praised Inter for their performance in the match and understood their disappointment, having himself experienced defeat in the final against Chelsea two years ago. He expressed his satisfaction for the trophies won and highlighted the physical battle against Inter, acknowledging how lucky they had been this time.
The Catalan coach also joked about the goal of turning City into a big team, saying that they are now only thirteen Champions League titles behind Real Madrid. Although in a joking tone, he mentioned that if Madrid get careless, City will catch them.
Finally, Guardiola shared his relief at having won the Champions League and noted that he will no longer be asked whether or not they will achieve it in the future. He stated that he was happier when they won the FA Cup against United last week and that the current feeling was one of relief and release of pressure. With humility, he acknowledged that although he is a good manager, he cannot win the treble every year.