Man City fans revel in ending wait for Champions League glory
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Manchester City fans celebrating after their team won the Champions League final on Saturday night.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MANCHESTER – Thousands of Manchester City fans spilled onto the city’s streets in celebration on Saturday, after the English champions beat Inter Milan 1-0
An Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008 has transformed City’s fortunes and, under manager Pep Guardiola, City have become the dominant force in English football in recent years.
But they still never conquered Europe until Spanish midfielder Rodri scored the only goal in Istanbul to spark joy in north-west England.
“One of the best nights of my life. You saw the bodies in there. It was incredible,” said supporter Jacob Evans after watching on a big screen as 6,000 City fans crammed into a fan zone.
Supporters climbed onto bus shelters as Piccadilly Gardens in the heart of Manchester was awash with fans in sky-blue shirts chanting “City, City” and “Champions of Europe, we know what we are.”
“It was deserved. It was the one we’ve missed out on over the last few years. It was always the stick people used to beat Man City. No European Cup, no European Cup. What can you say now? Nothing,” said another fan Shaun Stevens.
“I was there when Manchester City were in the second division and they’ve just won the Champions League and that is absolutely incredible,” said Rob Cookson, 45, speaking after a match screening for fans organised by the club at the Depot Mayfield venue.
The celebrations are only just beginning, with the players set to parade their treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies in an open-top bus through Manchester on Monday.
The celebrations are only just beginning with the players set to parade their trophies through Manchester on Monday.
PHOTO: AFP
For Inter and their fans, they can draw positives from their performance on an emotional night.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi insisted his side were unlucky to lose the final and expressed his pride at what his team had achieved.
“We do have regrets because defeat is the worst thing in sport, but I have to congratulate my lads,” he said. “They are very disappointed, but they should be very proud of the way they played. We didn’t deserve to lose. We played against a top team, absolutely, but Inter also played a great final.
“We were on a par with Manchester City. We are very disappointed but, as I said yesterday (Friday), I would not change my players for anyone else and tonight everyone saw why I said that.
“I hugged my players one by one, as they were extraordinary, just as our fans were and deserved a different result. But I hope they were happy seeing the way the team played tonight.”
The 47-year-old remained upbeat after a tough season in which he came under heavy pressure before guiding his side to third in Serie A as well as winning the Italian Cup and Super Cup.
They then became surprise Champions League finalists – reaching that stage for the first time since they won it in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.
“The team has proved over the last three months when everyone is available that it is up to us playing in this competition and we can have our say in it,” Inzaghi added.
“With this spirit, organisation and determination, we will be back here again in future.”
AFP, REUTERS
