Featured Image Credit: El Chiringuito / Alamy
Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan, Champions League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan, Champions League
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola aimed a brutal comment in reference to Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku when discussing his club's Champions League win.
City lifted their first European Cup on June 10, defeating Simone Inzaghi's Inter 1-0 in the final in Istanbul.
Rodri's 68th-minute strike into the bottom corner separated the sides on the scoresheet - but City were made to work for their win.
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Left-back Federico Dimarco hit the crossbar for the Italian side as they tried to force their way back into the contest. Then, on the rebound, the Italian's effort struck Lukaku and bounced away from goal before the English club could clear.
But the biggest moment of the game came late on, when Inter won a free kick.
The ball was played in to substitute Robin Gosens, who headed it across goal to Lukaku. However, although the Belgian striker made full contact with his header from six yards out, he could only head it straight into the path of goalkeeper Ederson, who made an instinctive save with his legs.
Ruben Dias then cleared the danger, meaning City could breathe a sigh of relief as they saw out the game and wrote their name on the trophy.
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Guardiola aims brutal comment at Lukaku
Over a week on from the final, City boss Guardiola spoke about his former club Barcelona and the job that Xavi is doing in the managerial hotseat at Camp Nou.
The 52-year-old issued a note of caution over his former star midfielder, who has seen his side knocked out of the Champions League group stage in both of his campaigns at the club.
But Guardiola urged Barca's board to give him time, putting it in the context of how long it took him to win the Champions League with City - and referenced Lukaku's late miss in Istanbul as well.
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He told Marca (quote via Reshad Rahman): "Give Xavi a little time [at Barcelona]. It took us [at City] eight years to win the Champions League.
"I'm European champion because a striker missed a clear header from three yards away..."
It was a moment to forget for Lukaku, who is now set to return to Chelsea this summer after the conclusion of his loan spell at Inter.
Like several other Chelsea players, the striker has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League. But Fabrizio Romano reports he has turned down approaches as he wants to remain in Europe.