Guardiola’s achievements
The 52-year-old Spanish coach won every title possible with City after his compatriot Rodri scored the Ataturk Stadium’s only goal in the 68th minute in a 1-0 victory over their Italian rivals. He matched Alex Ferguson’s achievement, which led Manchester United to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 1999. Guardiola won 12 Major titles with City, as well as two titles of the Community Shield. Not only that, but he became the first manager to win two titles after his feat with Barcelona in 2009 when he won the Spanish League, Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Guardiola has won his third Champions League title, and only Carlo Ancelotti surpasses him by one title.
Guardiola said Ferguson, who won 38 titles with United compared to the Spanish coach’s 25 titles with Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich and City, wished him luck in the final.
“It’s an honor to be with Alex Ferguson.
“I received a letter from him this morning and I was very touched by it. It was nice.”
United completed their treble with a spectacular last-minute comeback against Bayern Munich in 1999, while City’s victory was far from dramatic and hard-won.
fierce fighter
As Guardiola predicted, Inter were fierce fighters and threatened to continue to wait for the English club for the title. “I’m exhausted, but I feel calm and satisfied. It was very difficult to win the title,” Guardiola said after embracing all of his players and club staff.
“Inter are very smart and be patient, I said at half time that we must be lucky, this tournament is like flipping a coin for selection.
“He was meant for us, he belongs to us.”
Guardiola’s side, who reached the final after losing their last 27 games in all competitions, were far from their usual level, and Inter are to be congratulated for imposing their style and disrupting City’s pace.
City also had to recover from the knockout of key playmaker Kevin De Bruyne who was injured in the first half, while Erling Haaland, who has scored 52 goals this season, was chained down by the Inter defence.
Guardiola added: “We weren’t at our best, after the World Cup we took a step forward and got here, but it wasn’t our best performance.”
City are eager to win the English Premier League title for the fourth consecutive time next season and will be bidding to retain the Champions League title after ending a long wait.
Guardiola added: “I don’t have the energy to think about next season, it’s impossible, we need a rest and it will be very long.
“Our players are going to play international matches now. UEFA and FIFA should think about it. The English Premier League ended two or three weeks ago and now we’re playing again. It’s overkill. We’re going to start from scratch. in the new season.”
Although City have now joined the record of champions in Europe, Guardiola admitted that there is still a long time to go before classifying his team among the continent’s great powers, adding: “We are 13 titles away from Real Madrid (in the League of champions).
And the coach, who was applauded in the press conference room, continued: “If they sleep a bit, we can catch them. Some teams have disappeared after winning the Champions League, so we have to avoid that, but now you can stop asking me about the Champions League.”
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