Manchester City have clinched the treble for the 2022-23 season by defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final on Saturday night.
Even though Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal are among the world’s top teams, they all suffered heavy defeats during Manchester City’s pursuit of the treble. While not many teams managed to trouble Manchester City this season, Inter’s intense high-pressing tactics disrupted City’s rhythm for significant periods of the game.
In the 36th minute of the match, Guardiola’s team was forced to make a substitution when De Bruyne, who was struggling with a hamstring injury, was replaced by Phil Foden. Despite De Bruyne’s attempts to overcome the issue, he was ultimately unsuccessful, leading to the first change in the final.
For a club that has historically lived in the shadow of their illustrious neighbors Manchester United, this has been a long journey. The transformation of the club began when Sheikh Mansour, an Abu Dhabi royal, purchased the team in 2008 and was further propelled by the arrival of esteemed manager Pep Guardiola in 2016. The rest is history, as they say.
Manchester City fought their way into the history books, triumphing in the face of adversity, to secure their first UEFA Champions League title. This achievement completes the treble, following their victories in this season’s FA Cup and Premier League, making them only the second English club to accomplish this feat.
In a tense night in Istanbul, despite the loss of their Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the 35th minute, City seized control of the game in the 68th minute with one of their few shots on target, securing the final piece of silverware.
Such a domestic and European treble has only been achieved once before, by their local rivals Manchester United in the 1998-99 season, during a time when City was struggling to climb out of the third tier of domestic leagues.
Nervousness was palpable both on and off the pitch right from the start. City seemed to lose their usual fluidity and precision, with stray passes and anxious expressions replacing their Premier League dominance.
Throughout the game, the Italians appeared to have the upper hand, although their opportunities to score were limited.
City’s star striker Erling Haaland, surprisingly, missed two chances in the first 20 minutes. While these may not have been clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities for any other striker, his exceptional abilities would have typically resulted in at least one goal. Passes continued to go astray, and nerves were evident.
De Bruyne’s Saga
Then, De Bruyne’s dream turned into a nightmare as he suffered a hamstring strain. The midfielder tried to continue playing, but as he was signaled to leave the field, there was a hint of tears in his eyes. “I’m okay,” he mouthed as his teammates came to offer their support while he limped off.
Inter, who finished third in Serie A, won their most recent of three Champions League titles in 2010 under the management of José Mourinho, and they showed great determination.
Suddenly, in the 68th minute, as Haaland appealed for a handball in the Inter penalty area, an opportunity presented itself in the middle of the box to Rodri, a defensive player with a talent for scoring crucial goals. He calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the net from 16 yards, prompting City’s bench to storm the field.
Inter Milan pushed forward and had chances to equalize in the closing stages, but Romelu Lukaku, the substitute striker, was wasteful in front of goal. As the final whistle blew, City players threw themselves to the ground in celebration.
A Spell Crushed
By winning the top European trophy, Manchester City has surely dispelled any lingering doubts about the team’s ability, following a series of disappointing campaigns and their loss to Chelsea in the 2021 final in Porto.
However, the journey City undertook was unforeseen and proved to be uncomfortable and unpleasant, with a greater degree of challenges than anyone could have anticipated. Such unexpected occurrences are a common aspect of sports. In terms of determining the best team in the world, the final result was indeed the rightful outcome. Nevertheless, it served as a reminder that a determined and hungry underdog has the ability to unsettle even the most dominant and favored team.
On the other hand, Simone Inzaghi and his Inter players can take pride in the fact that they matched City’s performance, despite ultimately losing the final by a score of 1-0. In fact, they even outperformed City in various statistical categories, such as expected goals (1.80 to 0.93), shots on goal (14-7), shots on target (6-4), and big chances missed (4-2).
A Glimmer of Hope or what?
The last incident will be particularly painful for Romelu Lukaku, who previously played for Manchester United, City’s cross-town rival. He unintentionally blocked Federico Dimarco’s header that was heading towards the goal with 20 minutes remaining in the game. Then, in the 89th minute, with the entire goal to aim at, Lukaku placed a weak header right where Ederson, with his lightning-fast reflexes, could make a save.
Manchester City entered the intense atmosphere of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium as the overwhelming favorites, perhaps the biggest favorites they’ve been in the past twenty years. Many, including the bookmakers, believed that City’s victory was inevitable. They were up against a team that finished a distant third in Serie A, despite City being the reigning Premier League and FA Cup champions. It was such a significant occasion that even their owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was present to witness this historic event. This was quite remarkable considering that, despite claims of being a passionate fan by those close to him, he had only attended one previous match of the team he has invested over $1 billion in since acquiring it in 2008.
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