ATATURK STADIUM — Kyle Walker revealed he gave an inspirational speech to Manchester City’s players before the start of their Champions League final victory against Inter that secured a historic Treble.
City became the first English side since rivals Manchester United in 1999 to win the Treble of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Pep Guardiola became the first manager ever to win the Treble at two clubs, having done so at Barcelona in 2008-09.
Though City have won five of the last six Premier League titles and the club had swept up almost every trophy available, the Champions League was the one trophy to elude them.
But in front of City owner Sheikh Mansour, attending only his second live game since purchasing the club in September 2008, they finally lifted European football’s most coveted prize at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Guardiola made the surprise decision not to start Walker, but that did not stop the defender from sharing some words with his team-mates urging them to win the game in his absence.
”I said my dream is in your hands,” Walker said. “No pressure. You can’t say Inter deserved it more than we did or we deserved it more than they did. We’re both here by merit. There has to be a loser.
“Emotions played a part. The occasion is obviously going to get to you. I got a silver one last time so to get a gold one is fantastic.
“I’m living the dream. My mum and dad are in the stands. From where I come from in Sheffield it’s not easy. I remember when my mum didn’t have a pound for the ice cream van. To have this with them, I’m so thankful.”
In a tight, nervy game, Rodri struck the only goal in the 68th minute. Inter struck the crossbar late on, but it was not enough to prevent City winning.
Rodri, awarded the official man of the match, said his team-mates “competed like animals”. “[I feel] emotional,” he said. “A dream come true. All these guys around here [points to the fans] waited I don’t know how many years. They deserve, we deserve. The last years we were so close. I just want to thank everyone.
“It wasn’t easy. What a team we faced, the way they defend and counter-attack. We gave everything. I wasn’t good in the first half.
“Finals are like this. You can’t expect to play well as always. Emotions and nerves are there. We competed like animals.
“We want more. More ambition. It’s a dream. This moment will never happen again. We hope next year but we deserve to celebrate.”
Jack Grealish, signed for £100m two years ago, hailed Guardiola as a “genius”.
“This is what you work your whole life for. I’m so happy,” he said.”I was awful but I don’t care. To win the treble with this group of players is so special.
“Everyone who knows me knows how much I love football and this is what I have worked for my whole life. Seeing my family in the crowd makes me so emotional.
“I just said to the manager, ‘I want to thank you’. He has put so much faith in me. He is a genius.”
City captain Ilkay Gundogan said his side were “built to handle the pressure” after the build-up was dominated by talk of the Treble.
“Today we made history,” he added. “It was difficult for both teams. We weren’t at our best in the first half. We were hesitating. We knew we had to do better in the second.
“It was probably a 50-50 game. We feel very fortunate it was for us.”
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