It was a night of heartbreak for Inter Milan as they lost 1-0 to Manchester City in yesterday’s Champions League final. With last night’s game, the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League finally came to an end. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City finally managed to lay the ghost of the 2021 Champions League final defeat to rest. It was a night of jubilation for the English team as they won their first Champions League title as well as the treble.
MANCHESTER CITY ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. 🏆 🔵 pic.twitter.com/80iHEmb1iF
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 10, 2023
Despite facing two defeats in the group stages against Bayern Munich this season, Inter Milan still managed to reach the finals. However, the Nerazzurris failed to overcome the final hurdle against Pep Guardiola’s side. Although Inter dominated the game for large periods, City got the goal that mattered through their Spanish midfield maestro Rodri.
Romelu Lukaku stood in the way of Inter Milan’s potential equalizer.
Tough luck 💔 pic.twitter.com/6yYWSLyhoE
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 10, 2023
Rodri slotted the ball into the net in the 68th minute from a deflected Bernardo Silva cutback. Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana could only stand and watch as Rodri’s powerful, curling effort landed in the back of the net. Inter did have multiple chances to equalize, but Lautaro Martinez, Romelo Lukaku, and Federico Dimarco did. In what was their sixth European Cup final appearance, Inter couldn’t add the fourth trophy to their cabinet.
Inter Milan previously won the Champions League in the 1964, and 1965 seasons. They again won the trophy back in 2010 under the guidance of Jose Mourinho when they defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final. It was a historic season for Mourinho’s side as they became the first Italian team and the sixth team ever to win the continental treble. Inter had won the Champions League, Coppa Italia, and the Scudetto that season.
Clarence Seedorf branded Inter Milan the “bigger team” ahead of the Champions League 2023 final
Dutch star and AC Milan legend gave an exclusive interview on the eve of the 2023 Champions League final. Talking about the upcoming final, Seedorf branded the Italian giants as the “bigger team“. As per GOAL, he said, “Historically, they (Inter) have won many Champions Leagues already so City as a club is not there yet. They are facing a bigger club than they are in [terms of] the history, so I think that’s a nice challenge.“
Seedorf further said, “City wants to get there, they need to win Champions Leagues to build that legacy as a club so that is a nice thing, but I would never count out any Italian squad in any final.” The former AC Milan star also talked about Pep Guardiola’s legacy as the Manchester City manager reached the fourth Champions League final of his career.
Seedorf, despite appreciating Guardiola‘s greatness, refused to call him the greatest manager of all time. He said, “I’m not disregarding Guardiola, I have high esteem for Guardiola but people sometimes confuse the fact that there is not only one way of playing, there are other ways of playing football. He is obviously one of the best coaches in the world….but that doesn’t mean that’s the only way.”
Pep Guardiola is the first coach ever to win the European treble on multiple occasions 🏆✨
Barcelona 2008-09 🏆🏆🏆🔵🔴
Manchester City 2022-23 🏆🏆🏆🔵✨
Pep’s making history. pic.twitter.com/hgnTxSkuLv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 10, 2023
Despite Seedorf’s remarks, Guardiola has established himself as one of the greatest managers of all time with his third Champions League trophy. The 52-year-old coach had previously won the title twice with FC Barcelona in 2008-09 and 2010-11. While he failed to guide his former team Bayern Munich to victory, Guardiola finally managed to lead City to its long-awaited first UEFA Champions League title last night.
