Pep Guardiola says Manchester United played a key role in helping Manchester City win the Champions League last season.
In his latest press conference ahead of City’s contest against Huddersfield Town (via Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski), he claimed that beating United in the FA Cup final helped his side gain momentum ahead of their 1-0 win against Inter Milan.
Despite what was quite a tight-knit affair in Istanbul between Manchester City and Inter a couple of days later, Rodri’s 68th-minute screamer settled a landmark moment in the club’s history.
Pep Guardiola explains how beating Manchester United “helped” Manchester City in Champions League triumph
Before his side broke their much-awaited duck in Europe, all eyes were on whether Guardiola’s side would topple Manchester United over in the FA Cup final to keep their hopes of winning a treble alive.
A heroic Ilkay Gundogan brace meant Bruno Fernandes’ goal was deemed inconsequential as the Sky Blues reached one step closer to replicating United’s iconic side from 1999.
As Manchester City went on to win the Champions League and the treble, as a result, Pep Guardiola says Manchester United “helped” his side in a way as they beat them a few days before their European success.
“We know how tough it would be. We were lucky to start with the [Ilkay] Gundogan goal after they equalised”, he said, as quoted by Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski.
“In the second half, we took a step forward and were brilliant. The second half in the final, was really good. That [FA Cup final win] helped us to arrive in a different mood for the [Champions League] final in Istanbul.”
“Against United, it was a little bit more special, we have to admit. For our fans maybe, more special. I tried to be focused on what to do to beat them, focus on what we have to do. Put the emotions aside.
The Manchester City players seemed a lot more self-assured in their second Champions League final
Pep Guardiola certainly has a point and perhaps the high of beating Manchester United to FA Cup glory meant the Manchester City players had that extra spring in their step as they faced Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
In our view, as brilliant as Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea were against City in the Champions League final in 2021, Guardiola’s side did not seem ready for the clash.
However, against Inter Milan, the Sky Blues looked like they were set to get the job done by any means necessary.
Whether that is down to their experience of facing heartbreak in the Champions League final in the past, the confidence boost from beating Manchester United or a combination of both, Pep Guardiola certainly must have been one of the happiest men in the world.
