Pep Guardiola got his hands on the Champions League trophy for the first time with Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola turned the air blue at the start of his post-match interview after Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League on Saturday night.
The Spaniard watched his side lift Europe’s top prize in Istanbul thanks to Rodri scoring the only goal of the game in the second half.
That completed an historic treble for City and Guardiola admitted he was feeling the effects of an long and draining season that has also seen them win the Premier League and FA Cup.
The iconic manager has now won the Champions League three times, he knows more about winning the competition than almost anyone, and he insisted that it is…very difficult.
Asked how he felt, he told BT Sport: ‘Tired, calm, satisfied of course. This f***ing trophy is so difficult to win. It’s impossible.
‘They [Inter] are really good, really, really good. It’s similar, Antonio Conte will know what they do, it’s quite similar. They bring you up, find strikers, link really well. They can keep it and then run for the other side. The first half we were so anxious. The man free was John Stones and we couldn’t find him.
‘But the main thing was to be patient. I said at half time the last time we were 1-0 down in Porto [2021 Champions League final against Chelsea], this time it’s 0-0.
Guardiola celebrated with goal-scorer Rodri (Picture: Getty Images)
‘You have to be lucky in this competition. The save at the end from Ederson, they could draw and maybe Phil [Foden] scores the second one.
‘This competition is a coin [flip]. It was written in the stars this season that we win it and we did it.’
Asked how his side have improved since that 1-0 defeat to Chelsea two years ago, Guardiola said: ‘I think we defend a little bit better in the box. Four central defenders, proper defenders, I feel we’re more solid.’
MORE : ‘I played s***!’ – Manchester City hero Rodri reacts after scoring winner in Champions League final
MORE : Scott Carson equals amazing Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta Champions League record
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
‘It was written in the stars this season.’