Pep Guardiola’s major Champions League Final change revealed in Man City’s new Netflix show
Manchester City completed a historic treble in 2022-23 with victory in the Champions League final over Inter Milan adding to their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs - two years after defeat to Chelsea in the final
Pep Guardiola admitted being less ’aggressive’ with his players was crucial to Manchester City’s treble success - after getting things wrong during the 2021 Champions League final defeat to Chelsea.
A new club-produced documentary on Netflix, released on Tuesday, goes behind on the scenes of City’s historic season. It shows the message that City boss Guardiola gave to his players at half-time during the final in Istanbul, with the match against Inter Milan still goalless.
Guardiola is seen trying to settle the nerves of his players, reassuring them they can improve in the second half, before going on to win 1-0 through Rodri’s 68th minute strike.
“You’re exceptional players, playing the Champions League final,” Guardiola tells them. “What you feel is normal, yes. But we don’t give up. Go, go, go. That’s why we are here. We adjust one or two things and we’ll be much more effective. Calm, guys, calm. Keep going, we’ll find momentum.”
For Guardiola, speaking in the documentary, called ‘Together: Treble Winners’, the message was a stark contrast to two years previously in Porto, during the 1-0 loss to Chelsea.
Then, they had just fallen behind to Kai Havertz’s 42nd minute goal when players returned to the dressing room, and the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss believes he got his delivery wrong when trying to inspire his players that night.
“Of course emotion is so important in the final,” Guardiola said. “The big personalities, the characters. How you approach the moment in half-time, how you overcome, how well you overcome if it’s not a perfect first half, because it’s happened.
“People are human beings, they have the desire to do well, to achieve it, win it, to lift it… I remember the final against Chelsea at half-time I was more aggressive with some players and it didn’t work…
“In the finals, there is not one player who doesn’t want to win it and do it well. And when that moment came by, OK guys, we have 45 minutes, maybe extra time, stick with what we have. I have to adjust something, we do it. Come on, let’s go.
“I control my emotions much better than when I was younger as a manager.”
The documentary also includes Kyle Walker’s speech in the dressing room before kick-off. The England defender had been left out of Guardiola’s starting line-up for the match, and implored those taking the field to deliver for those on the sidelines.
“I love every single one of you,” said Walker, now City’s captain. “Come and make my dream come true. Please, I beg you. Right, come on boys.”
Politics Editor
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