10 June 2023 , 21:28
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Manchester City have finally won the Champions League – but they won’t get the honour of wearing the famous trophy on their shirts next season.
City completed the Treble by beating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul on Saturday night. It was a battle in the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with Rodri’s measured finish proving the difference before Ederson produced some key saves in the closing stages to clinch it.
Pep Guardiola has now completed the task he was brought in for, winning the trophy Sheikh Mansour has craved since he took over the club in 2008. And to do it after winning the Premier League and FA Cup in the same campaign makes it even more special for City supporters.
But despite winning the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, a badge of the trophy won’t be on the sky blue City shirt next season. That’s because the UEFA Badge of Honour is not handed out just for winning Europe’s top competition once.
It was introduced at the beginning of the 2000/01 season and to don the famous trophy clubs have to win a European title either five times or three times in succession.
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That means that the only clubs who can currently wear it are Sevilla – for their ridiculous Europa League speciality – Barcelona, Liverpool, Ajax, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Manchester City have won the Champions League for the first time (FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)That won’t bother Man City for now. Match-winner Rodri was emotional when speaking to BT Sport on the pitch after the final whistle was blown.
“I’m emotional. This is a dream come true,” he said. “All these guys [the fans] around here, waited I don’t know how many years – 20, 30, 40. I’ve been here just four but we deserve it. The last [few] years we were so close, it is a dream for all of us.”
City equalled the famous achievement of Manchester United from 1999. Rodri added: “I think we made history, but the good thing is that we want more. This group has more ambition, but this is a dream we have to enjoy because these moments never happen again. Of course we hope next year, it is so difficult, but we deserve to celebrate.”
City winger Jack Grealish was similarly overcome with emotion. “It’s what you work your whole life for, isn’t it? I’m just so happy, man,” he said. “I played so dud today, honestly, I was awful, but I don’t care.
“To win the treble with this group of players is so special. Anyone that knows me knows how much of a family person I am and how much I love football and stuff, this is what I’ve worked for my whole life. You think back to all the people who have helped you along the way and just seeing my family there in the crowd makes me emotional.”