Pep Guardiola vows in a moving interview on live TV after Manchester City won the treble and won their first Champions League final in 12 years
“It’s very difficult to win this fucking trophy,” Pep Guardiola said in an emotional live TV interview after winning his first Champions League title in 12 years.
In an uneventful Champions League final, City defeated Inter 1-0 and Rodri’s late shot was enough to separate both sides. The Italian side’s tactics turned into a battle of attrition that rendered Guardiola’s side ineffective.
The tense nature of the match favored Inter over City. City only made seven shots on goal and his four on target, while the opposing team had 14 and him five respectively. It was a far cry from City’s performances of yesteryear, but the final will be remembered for the result, not the performance.
It was the first time City have won the top club competition in Europe and the third success for Guardiola (he lifted the trophy twice at the start of his managerial career with Barcelona), but the last win. Dating back to 2011.
Those 12 years of waiting have been a long one for the coach, and there have been many near misses since. While his most heartbreaking defeat came in the final against Chelsea at Porto two years ago, City looked to break a 5-3 aggregate lead over Real Madrid in the closing minutes of last season’s semi-finals. taught.
An exhausted Guardiola told BT Sport after the game. “I’m tired, I’m calm and of course I’m happy. It’s very difficult to win this fucking trophy. It’s impossible.”
The City manager added on the difficulty of the game: Intel is really, really great. Antonio Conte has a similar style. They find Stryker. It links very well. they hold the ball we were very uneasy.
“John Stones was a free man and we couldn’t find him. But we had to be patient. We had to be lucky.”
Guardiola added, “They could have drawn this match. Perhaps Phil Foden could have scored a goal again. It could have been either way. This competition is a coin toss. ”
It’s the end of a long and emotional season for City, who have already won the Premier League and FA Cup trophies and an incredible and historic treble. Asked how the City side are better than they are in recent years, Guardiola explained: “We’re a little bit better defending in the box.”
“We have four decent defenders in the box and even if we make mistakes we are solid. If we have the momentum to win leagues and cups, it ends here.”
