CL win was ‘written in the stars’: Guardiola

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team's maiden Champions League title was "written in the stars" after their final victory over Inter Milan on Saturday.

"It's so difficult to win it," Guardiola told BT Sport after the nervy 1-0 victory.

"They (his players) are really good. Be patient, I said at half-time. You have to be lucky. (Goalkeeper) Ederson or they miss it, they could draw. This competition is a coin.

"It was written in the stars. It belongs to us."

"After the World Cup the team made a step forward and we were there," added Guardiola, whose side complete the campaign with just one loss in their last 28 matches.

"We're going to celebrate in the hotel with family and friends. Monday the parade is in Manchester. With this competition, the treble is so difficult."

He is just the second coach to lead an English club to such a treble, following in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson.

"It is an honour for me to be alongside Sir Alex Ferguson in that situation," he told reporters.

"I have to say I got a message from him this morning on my phone that touched me a lot. It is an honour for me to be with him. It is so nice."

City had suffered several near-misses in the Champions League since being taken over by their Abu Dhabi backers in 2008, including a defeat by Chelsea in the final two years ago.

They also lost in the semi-finals last season in dramatic circumstances to Real Madrid, following other unexpected defeats in recent years against the likes of Lyon and Tottenham Hotspur.

"You have to win in Europe to be considered a really good team, and we did it," Guardiola admitted.

Daily Pioneer
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