With Guardiola leading the way, the sight of sky blue ribbons adorning trophy handles is poised to become an enduring norm in England and beyond.
Pep Guardiola, amidst the resounding revelry of Manchester City’s Champions League triumph and treble celebrations in Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium, declared, “It was written in the stars. It belongs to us.”
One could argue, though, that the journey to this point was not solely written in the stars.
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Cynics, particularly Manchester United supporters, would undoubtedly point to the extensive legal proceedings and voluminous pages of documents that paved City’s path, stemming from allegations of financial fair play violations.
Let us not forget that City’s participation in this very competition in 2020 was only secured after a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which overturned a two-year UEFA ban that would have otherwise kept them sidelined.
City still faces 115 charges looming over them from an ongoing Premier League inquiry, which undoubtedly will take several more years to reach a conclusion.
For those seeking flaws in the Abu Dhabi “project,” the infusion of billions of dollars in petro cash that propelled City to the summit of global football, there remains ample material.
Critics will forever regard this treble as marked with an “asterisk,” questioning its legitimacy.
However, for the hundreds of thousands of unwavering City supporters, who prioritize football silverware over concerns of sports washing and human rights, this triumph represents the culmination of a fantastical football project.
Granted, the tense victory over Inter Milan, sealed by Rodri’s exceptional second-half strike, may not rank among Guardiola and City’s top 25 performances this season alone.
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Nevertheless, in terms of its significance, it was ground-shaking—a potentially epoch-making moment that could signify a permanent and seismic shift toward Middle Eastern investment funds that are increasingly entering the realm of football.
Disregarding this particular performance, which relied on two remarkable late saves from Ederson to secure a clean sheet and complete the first English football treble since Manchester United in 1999, the most striking statement games of this European season occurred in the preceding two rounds.
During those matches, City effortlessly dispatched Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, arguably the two foremost powers in European football, with an air of disdain.
Let us not forget that it was the relegation-threatened Southampton who, in their Carabao Cup victory, became the only team to defeat City in a cup competition this season, thus denying Guardiola the chance to secure the elusive quadruple.
If we set aside the captivating narrative surrounding City’s extraordinary journey over the past 11 years since their first Premier League title, Guardiola and his players truly deserve recognition for a season of unparalleled dominance, surpassing even the accomplishments of United 24 years ago.
“It is an honour for me to be alongside Sir Alex Ferguson. I got a message from him this morning and it is an honour,” said Guardiola.
“People say I have to win trebles every season. I am a good manager, but no.”
“I like this competition for the fact we won it, it is part of history and players will be remembered for the rest of their lives.”
“But now give credit for the five Premier Leagues won in six years. It is important now that people don’t forget what we have done.”
“Maybe they can create a museum so the fans can look at the trophies.”
Truly, the establishment of a museum should be dedicated solely to Guardiola, as he, more than any other individual, is the driving force behind the creation of this unstoppable team.
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Despite the absence of Erling Haaland, who has netted an impressive 52 goals, and the early exit of Kevin De Bruyne due to a hamstring injury, their impact on this recent victory was negligible.
Nevertheless, even with a below-par performance, City possessed enough strength and determination to triumph.
This was made possible by a precise strike from Rodri, who made his 52nd appearance of the season for City out of the 60 games played so far.
Rodri expressed his emotions, stating, “It’s an emotional moment and a dream come true.”
“We’ve come so close in previous years, and it hasn’t been easy. Finals are unpredictable, and you can’t always expect to perform at your best.”
“Emotions and nerves are present, but we competed with incredible determination. We want more, with even greater ambition.”
“This is a dream, a moment that will never be repeated. We hope for more next year, but we deserve to celebrate.”
Indeed, true champions that they are, City’s focus was already shifting towards the upcoming season and the defense of their three trophies.
This realization serves as a sobering thought for City’s rivals as they come to terms with the second treble of Guardiola’s career.
While there may be changes ahead, with experienced midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva potentially departing for new clubs, money is clearly not a limiting factor.
Additionally, there is the exciting prospect of what the 22-year-old Erling Haaland can achieve, despite a recent dip in form with only one goal in his last eight games, the worst run of his career.
Haaland spoke highly of his relationship with Guardiola, stating, “We have a strong bond, and I’m looking forward to the next season to further develop.”
“Being trained by him every single day, the best coach in the world, is a fantastic opportunity.”
This is the reality that City faces as they approach an important summer of personnel decisions: with Guardiola at the helm, the sight of sky blue ribbons tied to trophy handles will become an enduring way of life in England and beyond. – 20newshub.
