For anyone who feared that Manchester City would wipe out Inter Milan like an artificial intelligence-powered machine, that was not the case. At Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium, the machines began to tense up. But City still clinched their first-ever Champions League title and a historic third trophy in one season with typical City goals, Spaniard Rodri netting in the 68th minute.
Manager Pep Guardiola’s side have deserved it for the season they’ve had, and even the era, but not tonight.
City’s problem was that they were without their two main attacking threats for almost the entire game. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who left injured in the 2021 final against Chelsea, limped away after 35 minutes. An even bigger mystery was the absence of center Erling Haaland for 90 minutes.
The 22-year-old Norwegian has dominated the season, scoring 52 goals in his first season in England. He led Manchester City to the English title and the FA Cup. But against Inter, he acted as if the team’s bus driver had accidentally pulled on the number 9 jersey. The few times he touched the ball, he generally lost the ball, and he only tried Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana once, starting with a direct shot. In fact, his sleepwalking performance brought to mind the dreary night of the Brazilian Ronaldo in the 1998 World Cup final. Haaland finished the season with one goal in his last eight games. Is it fatigue, or lack of big-name temperament?
Before Abu Dhabi’s ruling family bought and financed the club in 2008, City suffered from “urban disease” – a tendency to self-sabotage at decisive moments. In Istanbul, it resurfaced like a forgotten genetic flaw, and it was remarkable for a team that made Real Madrid look like a veteran XI in the semi-finals. Watching his plaything in competitive action for the first time since 2010, Manchester City boss Sheikh Mansour may wonder where he wasted money.
For Europe’s biggest club competition, the atmosphere was lackluster. At the Ataturk Stadium on the outskirts of Istanbul, the crowd sat away from the pitch, almost like a Cold War Eastern European venue. It seemed like a sub-optimal venue, especially as the traffic jam forced thousands of fans to walk the last mile to the stadium next to the motorway.
Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana concedes Manchester City midfielder Rodri’s goal © AFP via Getty Images
The game began in a rare moment when City managed to lure the Italian defense out of position. In the 68th minute, Phil Foden, who replaced Kevin De Bruyne, deftly dribbled the ball past Inter Milan’s goal and took away the defender. He then found Manuel Akanji, who played up front in front of Bernardo Silva, who passed the ball from close to the touchline to Rodri pushing forward – a typical attack for City. . Alone in space, the Spaniard took his time and fired a low shot into Onana’s bottom left corner. UEFA awarded Rodri the Man of the Match award, although, by his own account, during the first half, “I was kicking shit, to be honest”.
After leading 1-0, Guardiola’s side, in their usual form, would blunt any counter-attacks by monopolizing possession. Here, Manchester City gave Inter Milan another chance. Federico DiMarco’s header hit the crossbar with a flailing hand from goalkeeper Ederson, who made a brilliant save against Lukaku, who came off the bench for Inter. Even on the final kick of the game, Inter’s corner at the end of extra time, the Brazilian had to make an impossible stop. “It could be a five-fifty game,” Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan admitted to television channel BT Sport.
Winger Jack Grealish told the channel: “I suck but I don’t care. It’s been my life’s work. I said to the manager: ‘I want to thank you.’ “He trusted me so much. He’s a genius.” That may be true, though not tonight’s evidence.
Critics of Manchester City have accused the club of using “financial doping” to build this outstanding squad. The Premier League has referred Manchester City to an independent committee that will examine more than 100 allegations of breaches of financial rules over nearly a decade – allegations the club denies.
Manchester City fans in Istanbul don’t care. It was the most important night in the club’s history. Only one English side has previously won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble – their neighbors Manchester United won it in 1999, the same year City had just avoided relegation to English football’s third tier.
Some old fans singing the traditional club anthem Blue Moon will also be there.