Manchester City captain Ilkay Gündogan reacted emotionally to his first Champions League triumph with Manchester City and is looking forward to celebrating with the team.
“Like in a fairy tale, it doesn’t get any better. It’s a great privilege not only to be the captain of this team, but to be a member of this team, to play under pep, to be part of this great club,” said the 32-year-old the 1-0 win against Inter Milan in Istanbul at DAZN. He is now very happy to celebrate with the team.
The team around the German national player and star coach Pep Guardiola was able to celebrate after 90 minutes thanks to the goal of the Spaniard Rodri (68th minute). “In the first half I felt like we were stepping back rather than going forward, which is normal when you play a final like this. In the second half we were there, we were there in the tackles,” said Gündogan, whose parents are from Turkey. “In the end that one goal made the difference, so we’re all the happier.”
Several unsuccessful attempts
After several unsuccessful attempts and two years after the final defeat against Chelsea, it was City’s first triumph in the premier class. “We were just due today,” said Gündogan, who first congratulated the Loser Inter players after the win. “I know some of the guys, have played a lot of them in the past. Who knows what it feels like to lose a final better than I do.”
For Gündogan it was the first victory in his third premier class final. The national player failed conceivably in the final in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund and in 2021 with Manchester City. “You can imagine if you play the third final and lost the two before that, the first of them ten years ago, then that will chase you, mentally too,” said Gündogan on ZDF.