Manchester City have now won the Champions League, though they won’t get the honour of wearing the trophy on their shirts next season.
City completed the Treble by beating Inter Milan 1-0 on Saturday. And it was a battle in the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with Rodri’s finish the difference before Ederson produced vital saves in the closing stages to win it.
Pep Guardiola has now completed the task he was signed for, winning the trophy Sheikh Mansour has craved since he took over in 2008. And to even do it after winning the Premier League and FA Cup in the same season makes it even more special for the fans.
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Despite winning the Champions League for the first time, a badge of the trophy won’t be on City’s shirt next season. That’s because the UEFA Badge of Honour is not given just for winning Europe’s top competition once.
It was introduced at the beginning of the 2000/01 campaign and to don the famous trophy teams have to win a title either five times or three times consecutively.
That means that the only teams who can currently wear it are Sevilla – for their Europa League speciality – Barcelona, Liverpool, Ajax, Bayern, AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Rodri was emotional when speaking to BT Sport 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.”
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.”
“It’s what you work your whole life for, isn’t it? I’m just so happy, man,” City winger Jack Grealish. “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.”
