Five Things Learned: Manchester City 1-0 Inter (Champions League Final)

Manchester City became the Champions of Europe following a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in a historic day for the club last Saturday night.

A decade of heartbreak and torture was finally ended, as Manchester City lifted the elusive Champions League trophy in Istanbul, following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Serie A giants.

It was a typically cagey affair as finals normally are, with the expected pattern of play emerging as Manchester City controlled the ball, while Inter held the Blues at bay with a dogmatic and rigid structure.

A straightforward save by Andre Onana in the Inter goal would precede the first draw of emotion in the game, as Kevin De Bruyne tweaked his hamstring following the effortw with history repeating itself as the Belgian was forced off injured in the Champions League final.

The first half came to a close with neither side unable to break the other down, following a period of robust and resolute defending. Unsurprisingly, the pattern of play resumed in the second half, with Manchester City having the majority of possession yet unable to break down the opposition.

But cometh the hour, cometh the Rodri.

A deflected effort into the middle from Bernardo Silva saw the ball land in front of Rodri. With bodies in front and the whole goal to aim at, the Spaniard had time to pick his spot and calmly side-foot the ball past Onana, as the Manchester City faithful erupted in euphoria.

A priceless lead granted by the ever-reliable Rodri put Manchester City in pole position to lift the trophy and secure the treble if they were to hold out for the remainder of the affair. It was then their turn to defend deep and maintain the lead, and just when you need your defence to turn up, Ruben Dias and Ederson stepped up to the mark with heroics of their own.

Leaping highest, Robin Gosens diverted a header back into the middle, finding the head of Romelu Lukaku from four yards out, but the Belgian was denied by Ederson with a remarkable save, as Ruben Dias instinctively diverted the rebound behind.

Clinging on, Manchester City tried desperately to thwart the efforts of Inter, as Ederson once again rose to the occasion and made a crucial save to deny Inter, this time via a headed effort in the last minute of the game.

The efforts of City were rewarded, as the players dropped to their knees in jubilation as the final whistle blew, signalling the completion of a historic treble and an incredible season. It was a monumental campaign for the blue half of Manchester, started in London and finished in Istanbul. With that being said, here are five things we learned from the success delivered in Turkey!

Manchester City are (finally) Champions of Europe!

A decade of misfortune and heartbreak was finally ended on Saturday, as Manchester City became successful in the Champions League. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions in this competition over the years, but the blues were finally winners in their efforts following victory over Inter.

It all started with a Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko partnership back in 2011 against an Italian club, and their trials and tribulations over the years ended with euphoria for the Argentine and dismay for the Bosnian, who was on the wrong end of the scoreline on Saturday.

It’s been a stint in Europe that has come full circle, as several key players post-takeover watched on from the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, viewing the club they’ve helped develop finally lift the long-awaited Champions League trophy.

From desperation to elation – The Manchester City way

A hamstring injury suffered by Kevin De Bruyne left many fans fearing the worst, with a growing déjà vu feeling as the Belgian was forced off the field in 2021, in the defeat suffered by Chelsea in Porto.

The injury sustained by De Bruyne teed up a nail-biting remaining 60 minutes, as Manchester City fans grew desperate. “Typical City” is a phrase in years gone by meaning City tend to throw it away when the pressure is on. However, this group of players have seemingly reinvented the phrase.

When the going got tough, key players stepped up. The thunderbolt from Rodri emphasised the shift in mentality undergone by the club, as players no longer shirk the responsibility, but seemingly thrive under the pressure of the occasion.

A rocket from Rodri!

Match-winner and unsung hero rightfully stole the headlines on Saturday, as the Spaniard fired the winning goal into the goal in which the Manchester City fans sat and subsequently celebrated behind.

It’s been a long season for Rodri, who played his 56^th match of the season on Saturday, but there were no signs of fatigue creeping in when the midfielder stepped up to the mark when his team needed him the most.

The bolt from the blue arrived at a crucial time, giving City a priceless lead as the Spaniard once again emphasised his importance to this Manchester City side, repaying the belief instilled in him by Pep Guardiola.

Ederson – from zero to HERO!

It’s been a turbulent year for Ederson. The Manchester City shot-stopper has received a fair share of backlash based on some of his performances this season, but his heroics on Saturday certainly outweigh his earlier efforts.

Ederson was arguably the most important player on the pitch against Inter, vitally denying two massive chances, drawing saves from Romelu Lukaku and Francesco Acerbi late on in the game.

Since arriving in 2017 from Benfica, Ederson has somewhat divided opinion amongst the Manchester City fanbase, but following his heroics against Inter Milan, the Brazilian has surely silenced the doubters and re-established himself as one of Europe’s elite.

Manchester City – Where to from here?

The Blues have climbed the mountain and conquered Europe, ending the campaign with an undefeated run in the Champions League, an FA Cup trophy and the Premier League title, landing a historic treble.

City retained the Premier League trophy for the third time this season, while winning it for a fourth consecutive time would be an unprecedented achievement which beckons the question: what is next for this club?

Rest and recuperation are certainly in order for the foreseeable future, but once pre-season gets underway, there will be no time to dwell on the past, as the manager and player look to accomplish more unimaginable achievements and create even more history.