Publish: 12:13, 11 Jun, 2023

Champions League win was 'written in the stars': Guardiola

Online Desk
Champions League win was 'written in the stars': Guardiola
সংগৃহীত ছবি

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team's maiden Champions League title was "written in the stars" after their final victory over Inter Milan on Saturday, reports BSS.

Rodri's 68th-minute strike proved enough for City to finally get their hands on club football's biggest trophy, despite having to ride their luck as Inter missed several second-half chances.

"It's so difficult to win it," Guardiola told BT Sport after the nervy 1-0 victory.

"They (his players) are really good. Be patient, I said at half-time. You have to be lucky. (Goalkeeper) Ederson or they miss it, they could draw. This competition is a coin.

"It was written in the stars. It belongs to us."

Guardiola has now won the trophy three times as a coach after his previous triumphs with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

City's victory also clinched a treble following their Premier League and FA Cup successes this season.

"After the World Cup the team made a step forward and we were there," added Guardiola, whose side complete the campaign with just one loss in their last 28 matches.

"We're going to celebrate in the hotel with family and friends. Monday the parade is in Manchester. With this competition, the treble is so difficult."

He is just the second coach to lead an English club to such a treble, following in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson.

"It is an honour for me to be alongside Sir Alex Ferguson in that situation," he told reporters.

"I have to say I got a message from him this morning on my phone that touched me a lot. It is an honour for me to be with him. It is so nice."

City had suffered several near-misses in the Champions League since being taken over by their Abu Dhabi backers in 2008, including a defeat by Chelsea in the final two years ago.

They also lost in the semi-finals last season in dramatic circumstances to Real Madrid, following other unexpected defeats in recent years against the likes of Lyon and Tottenham Hotspur.

"You have to win in Europe to be considered a really good team, and we did it," Guardiola admitted.

"Inter is an exceptional team, but sometimes you need this type of luck that in the past against Tottenham, in other games, in the final against Chelsea, that we didn't have."

- 'A big relief' –

The 52-year-old, who also won the competition as a player with Barcelona in 1992, admitted he was looking forward to a break now but said he hoped this would just be the start for City in Europe.

"I don't want after one Champions League to disappear, so we have to work harder next season and be there," he insisted.

"There are teams that win the Champions League and after one or two seasons, they disappear. We have to avoid it.

"Knowing me, this will not happen, but at the same time I have to admit it is a big relief for this club, this institution, for everyone to have this trophy.

"Now finally they are not going to ask me if we are going to win the Champions League."

The next target will be retaining the trophy, something only Madrid have done in the past three decades. "No don't talk about it. Give me a break please," he joked when asked about getting ready to go again next season, when the final will be played at Wembley.

"My chairman said 'Oh London is next season, the final of the Champions League'. I don't tell you my answer to him.

"We have time. Now is time to celebrate."

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan

More News
BCB set to launch NCL T20 to hone local players' skill
BCB set to launch NCL T20 to hone local players' skill
3 arrested for racist comment at Liga Clasico
3 arrested for racist comment at Liga Clasico
India affirm control as Jaiswal, Rahul ensure 218-run lead
India affirm control as Jaiswal, Rahul ensure 218-run lead
3 women footballers accorded grand reception in Rangamati for winning SAFF Championship
3 women footballers accorded grand reception in Rangamati for winning SAFF Championship
Saudi Arabia enters cricket scene with major investment in IPL auction
Saudi Arabia enters cricket scene with major investment in IPL auction
I did not come to Saudi for money, but to win: Ronaldo
I did not come to Saudi for money, but to win: Ronaldo
Bowlers struggle to claim five Windies wickets on Day 1
Bowlers struggle to claim five Windies wickets on Day 1
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl
Kings defeat Mohammedan 3-1 in season opener
Kings defeat Mohammedan 3-1 in season opener
Bumrah leads India's fightback as Australia crumble in first Test
Bumrah leads India's fightback as Australia crumble in first Test
Ireland women’s cricket team arrives in Dhaka
Ireland women’s cricket team arrives in Dhaka
Bangladesh tennis team beat Yemen
Bangladesh tennis team beat Yemen
Latest News
COP29: Climate-vulnerable nations walk out of overtime talks
COP29: Climate-vulnerable nations walk out of overtime talks

2 minutes ago | International

Jubo League leader Samrat’s aide arrested from Tongi
Jubo League leader Samrat’s aide arrested from Tongi

21 minutes ago | City

New submarines to join Iran’s navy fleet
New submarines to join Iran’s navy fleet

23 minutes ago | International

Storm Bert wreaks havoc across UK-Ireland with heavy rain, snow
Storm Bert wreaks havoc across UK-Ireland with heavy rain, snow

42 minutes ago | International

475 killed in 452 road accidents in October
475 killed in 452 road accidents in October

1 hour ago | National

BCB set to launch NCL T20 to hone local players' skill
BCB set to launch NCL T20 to hone local players' skill

1 hour ago | Sports

Gold price hiked by Tk2,823 per bhori
Gold price hiked by Tk2,823 per bhori

1 hour ago | Economy

Local elections should precede 13th JS poll after needed reforms: Dr Tofail Ahmed
Local elections should precede 13th JS poll after needed reforms: Dr Tofail Ahmed

2 hours ago | National

Make sure no innocent person to be harassed: IGP
Make sure no innocent person to be harassed: IGP

2 hours ago | National

Astronauts Sunita, Butch suffer from food crisis in Space
Astronauts Sunita, Butch suffer from food crisis in Space

2 hours ago | Tech

Experts say digital clutter affects mental health, productivity
Experts say digital clutter affects mental health, productivity

2 hours ago | Lifestyle

Debutant Priyanka Gandhi wins Wayanad by-election
Debutant Priyanka Gandhi wins Wayanad by-election

2 hours ago | International

Fashion show by Indian slum children is wowing world
Fashion show by Indian slum children is wowing world

3 hours ago | Showbiz

Erdogan hails ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu
Erdogan hails ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu

3 hours ago | International

Jubo League activist seen firing on student protesters arrested
Jubo League activist seen firing on student protesters arrested

3 hours ago | City

Putin vows more tests of nuke-capable missile fired at Ukraine
Putin vows more tests of nuke-capable missile fired at Ukraine

3 hours ago | International

Farida Akhter urges immediate action to protect haor fish breeding
Farida Akhter urges immediate action to protect haor fish breeding

3 hours ago | National

DoE runs cleanliness drive and awareness campaigns in Barisal
DoE runs cleanliness drive and awareness campaigns in Barisal

4 hours ago | National

Long-term plan needed for Rohingya repatriation: Foreign Affairs Advisor
Long-term plan needed for Rohingya repatriation: Foreign Affairs Advisor

4 hours ago | National

Electing President through direct votes under consideration
Electing President through direct votes under consideration

4 hours ago | National

3 arrested for racist comment at Liga Clasico
3 arrested for racist comment at Liga Clasico

4 hours ago | Sports

India affirm control as Jaiswal, Rahul ensure 218-run lead
India affirm control as Jaiswal, Rahul ensure 218-run lead

4 hours ago | Sports

Paharia language keyboard launched
Paharia language keyboard launched

4 hours ago | City

Dengue claims 10 more lives
Dengue claims 10 more lives

4 hours ago | National

'Tarique Rahman’s leadership was unique in mass uprising'
'Tarique Rahman’s leadership was unique in mass uprising'

4 hours ago | National

Sonakshi Sinha shares her love story, recalls being the first to say "I Love You" to Zaheer Iqbal
Sonakshi Sinha shares her love story, recalls being the first to say "I Love You" to Zaheer Iqbal

4 hours ago | Showbiz

Gold jewelry valued at Tk 3.8 million seized in Chuadanga
Gold jewelry valued at Tk 3.8 million seized in Chuadanga

5 hours ago | City

Plots will increase if elections are delayed: Tarique Rahman
Plots will increase if elections are delayed: Tarique Rahman

5 hours ago | National

3 women footballers accorded grand reception in Rangamati for winning SAFF Championship
3 women footballers accorded grand reception in Rangamati for winning SAFF Championship

5 hours ago | Sports

Smuggled goods worth over Tk1.65cr seized at Sylhet-Sunamganj border
Smuggled goods worth over Tk1.65cr seized at Sylhet-Sunamganj border

5 hours ago | National

Most Read
‘Genocide-Free’ cola gains popularity in the United Kingdom
‘Genocide-Free’ cola gains popularity in the United Kingdom

8 hours ago | International

Bangladesh eyes on creating quality jobs for youths
Bangladesh eyes on creating quality jobs for youths

7 hours ago | National

Trudeau dances while Montreal burns
Trudeau dances while Montreal burns

6 hours ago | International

OpenAI invests in research on ‘AI Morality’
OpenAI invests in research on ‘AI Morality’

7 hours ago | Tech

Trump could ban British lawyer leading Netanyahu ICC prosecution, reports say
Trump could ban British lawyer leading Netanyahu ICC prosecution, reports say

14 hours ago | International

Dozens Jewish extremists try to attack IDF’s top commander
Dozens Jewish extremists try to attack IDF’s top commander

6 hours ago | International

South Korea's development: A model for our future growth
South Korea's development: A model for our future growth

9 hours ago | Special

Suspected of matricide ‘drug addict’ surrenders to police in Cox’s Bazar
Suspected of matricide ‘drug addict’ surrenders to police in Cox’s Bazar

8 hours ago | National

Plots will increase if elections are delayed: Tarique Rahman
Plots will increase if elections are delayed: Tarique Rahman

5 hours ago | National

Dhaka-Benapole train service via Padma Bridge from Dec 2
Dhaka-Benapole train service via Padma Bridge from Dec 2

11 hours ago | National

BNP declines responsibility
BNP declines responsibility

11 hours ago | National

3 IUT students die as picnic bus gets electrocuted in Gazipur
3 IUT students die as picnic bus gets electrocuted in Gazipur

9 hours ago | City

Fashion show by Indian slum children is wowing world
Fashion show by Indian slum children is wowing world

3 hours ago | Showbiz

'Be patient, just for a little while'
'Be patient, just for a little while'

8 hours ago | Special

'Bhagam Bhag 2' confirmed! Akshay Kumar, Govinda, and Paresh Rawal to return!
'Bhagam Bhag 2' confirmed! Akshay Kumar, Govinda, and Paresh Rawal to return!

9 hours ago | Showbiz

Drug lords eye Bangladesh
Drug lords eye Bangladesh

7 hours ago | National

World's tallest and shortest women share tea in London
World's tallest and shortest women share tea in London

13 hours ago | International

US reports first bird-flu case in a child
US reports first bird-flu case in a child

11 hours ago | International

NATO chief talks with Trump on global security issues
NATO chief talks with Trump on global security issues

6 hours ago | International

Son hacks mother to death in Cox's Bazar
Son hacks mother to death in Cox's Bazar

5 hours ago | City

Bangladesh Bank criticizes Moody’s downgrade rating
Bangladesh Bank criticizes Moody’s downgrade rating

12 hours ago | Economy

New CEC Nasir Uddin and four commissioners to take oath tomorrow
New CEC Nasir Uddin and four commissioners to take oath tomorrow

12 hours ago | National

Bowlers struggle to claim five Windies wickets on Day 1
Bowlers struggle to claim five Windies wickets on Day 1

12 hours ago | Sports

Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 9 medics in Gaza
Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 9 medics in Gaza

12 hours ago | International

Efforts in progress to stabilize market ahead of Ramadan: Commerce Adviser
Efforts in progress to stabilize market ahead of Ramadan: Commerce Adviser

6 hours ago | National

Gold jewelry valued at Tk 3.8 million seized in Chuadanga
Gold jewelry valued at Tk 3.8 million seized in Chuadanga

5 hours ago | City

Fears for Gaza hospitals as fuel and aid run low
Fears for Gaza hospitals as fuel and aid run low

13 hours ago | International

Dhaka ranks 3rd worst globally on Saturday morning
Dhaka ranks 3rd worst globally on Saturday morning

13 hours ago | City

Saudi Arabia enters cricket scene with major investment in IPL auction
Saudi Arabia enters cricket scene with major investment in IPL auction

5 hours ago | Sports

'Tarique Rahman’s leadership was unique in mass uprising'
'Tarique Rahman’s leadership was unique in mass uprising'

4 hours ago | National