When a team like Real Madrid go down 4-0, the opposition must have been overwhelming. That was Manchester City. A feat of tactics, a show of determination.
Despite the goalless appearance, Erling Haaland enjoyed the final with the Norwegian flag over his broad shoulders, and “Istanbul” was written in large letters on the scoreboard.
After the intoxicating performance against the humiliated and deposed defending champions Real Madrid, the team around the Norwegian football force of nature is the favorite in the final on June 10 in the Turkish metropolis on the Bosphorus. “The next step closer to finality, to immortality,” wrote the British “Guardian” after the demonstration of power against the royals.
Kroos: It’s not that we didn’t want to
Real’s German midfield star Toni Kroos also had to concede a harsh smack, “definitely”. The 0: 4 in the second leg hurt, the dream of his sixth Champions League title burst in a painful way. Powerless is the wrong word, he said on the streaming service DAZN with a view to the performance of the Madrilenians in the first half.
Nothing went against the unleashed and determined hosts. “It’s not that logically we didn’t want to,” emphasized Kroos. They just couldn’t. Manchester City was too strong. The city players were difficult to grasp, explained Kroos. “We were often a meter or two apart.”
Manchester City feels unstoppable
It was a show of force in the first half. “What a wonderful evening,” wrote City captain Ilkay Gündogan on social media. With great applause, he left the pitch prematurely when he was substituted. “So PROUD of this team,” continued the German international.
Real only had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for the fact that the performance didn’t already become a humiliation when he made two great saves against Haaland, among other things. The Belgian was unable to prevent Bernardo Silva’s decisive brace (23rd minute, 37th minute) in the first round. “I don’t think many teams can do that against Real Madrid,” Manchester’s Jack Grealish told BT Sport, “but when we’re all together and especially playing here (at home) we feel unstoppable.”
The bow to Pep Guardiola
He won the Champions League twice with FC Barcelona and is now in the final for the second time with Manchester City. He has been coaching the club since 2016. The coronation on the highest European stage has so far failed to materialize. For the British tabloid “The Sun”, the appearance in the football frenzy against Real was more than just a semi-final victory for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. “It was the night a seven-year reign culminated, when perfection flared and the impossible dream of a treble became a possibility.”
In the Premier League table, defending champions Manchester City are ahead, in the FA Cup there is a city duel in the final against United. The coach himself thought again about the bitter end against Real in the semi-finals a year ago and emphasized that you also have to celebrate if you reach the final of the Champions League. “Unfortunately we don’t have time because we can win the Premier League on Sunday,” Guardiola said. But he still wants to treat his players to a day with the families on Thursday.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
