With a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan Saturday, Manchester City “became a European champion for the first time in its 143-year history” and completed a “historic sweep of three major trophies” -- adding the UEFA Champions League title to its Premier League title and the FA Cup in England. The only other English team ever to pull off the same treble “is City’s local rival, Manchester United, which managed it in 1998-99.” This is “what happens when era-defining wealth meets some of the brightest minds in soccer.” Ever since the club takeover, City “has pumped billions of dollars into the transfer market to build one of the deepest squads in the game.” And in 2016, “it handed the most important role in that project to the revolutionary tactician,” Man City Manager Pep Guardiola . Abu Dhabi royal Sheikah Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan , owner of Abu Dhabi United Group -- which owns Man City -- attended the “second competitive City match of his life” to witness the victory ( WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/10 ).
Newspapers around the U.K. and beyond reacted to Man City's victory:
- Manchester Evening News -- "City under Pep Guardiola were always destined to be kings of Europe."
- London Guardian -- "City scrap way to fulfilling 'obsession.'"
- London Telegraph -- "Man City celebrations were weird and flat -- and that should terrify every other club."
- Sports Illustrated -- "Manchester City’s Champions League Triumph, Treble Is a Dark Day for Soccer."
