Pep Guardiola: Man City need to win Champions League to seal greatness

Premier League and FA Cup holders now face Inter Milan in bid for historic treble

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after winning the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on June 3, 2023. PA

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged his side to go and complete the treble when they take on Inter Milan's in next week's Champions League final.

City defeated Manchester rivals United 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday – thanks to a brace from Ilkay Gundogan after a Bruno Fernandes penalty for the Red Devils – having already secured the Premier League title.

Guardiola joined Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson as the only managers to win the English double more than once, having also achieved it in the 2018-19 season.

Next up for City will be the European Cup final against Inter in Istanbul as the club bid to win their first European Cup – and seal a historic treble.

“Everybody knows it. We have done incredible seasons – five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, Carabao Cups, but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised like the team deserves to be recognised,” said Guardiola.

“We have to admit it, without the Champions League – it has been amazing, it has been fun – but we are missing [something]. We have to do it.

“We are one game away. I would say it is incredible, remarkable, that in three years we have had two finals and one semi-final of the Champions League.

“But in the end, we have to win it. I know how it works. I said to the players, 'You have to put the pressure on yourself. To be recognised as something good you have to win in Europe'.”

Before they fully switch focus to Inter, City can reflect on their latest trophy-winning performance, when things did not all go their way at Wembley.

United pegged City back following Gundogan's superb opener – the quickest ever FA Cup final goal after just 12 seconds – with Fernandes scoring from the spot after Jack Grealish was judged to have handled following a VAR review.

Yet they responded early in the second half as Kevin De Bruyne picked out Gundogan on the edge of the area from a free-kick and the German volleyed in his second.

City beat United in FA Cup final: Player ratings

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega – 7: Little chance with Fernandes’s penalty. Unflustered throughout and distributed the ball well. EPA

Kyle Walker – 6: Handled Rashford’s pace well and wasn’t really put under any pressure until Garnacho came on. Fluffed a clearance to let Rashford in with a chance. AP

Ruben Dias – 7: In almost total command of his back line. The Portuguese defender oozed authority and class. Getty

John Stones - 7: Another assured performance from the England international. Moved between the lines with ease and made a couple of vital interceptions. Reuters

Manuel Akanji – 7: Shook off a horrible tackle from Casemiro to put in a shift of unfussy quality and composure. AFP

Rodri – 7: Went close to doubling City’s lead with a clever header early on. Found himself outnumbered by United at times as the game went on but barely put a foot wrong. AFP

Bernardo Silva – 6: Didn’t get much change out of Luke Shaw but did keep the United left-back occupied to blunt his attacking threat. PA

Kevin De Bruyne – 8: A quiet first half but clocked up two assists and should have earned a penalty when he was brought down by Fred as he burst into the box. AFP

Ilkay Gundogan – 10: A masterclass from the City captain. His volleyed opener with his right foot was perfection and his second goal was a clever finish with his left. The definition of a big-game player. PA

Jack Grealish – 6: Didn’t make his usual impact as Wan-Bissaka kept him under wraps for the most part. Was unlucky to concede the penalty. Getty

Erling Haaland – 6: Kept United’s back line busy throughout but his finishing was below par. PA

SUBS: Phil Foden (On for De Bruyne, 76’) – 6: A lively cameo from the young Englishman. AFP

Nathan Ake (On for Grealish, 89’) – N/A. Aymeric Laporte (On for Walker, 90+4’) N/A. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 5: Stood stunned as Gundogan’s right footed volley flew past him. His long balls forward were found by blue shirts too often, but he struggled going short too. Should have done better for City’s second. Saved from De Bruyne just after hour mark. Getty

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7: Headed a ball across the City goal, which Grealish handled to concede a penalty. One of the few effective United players in the first half. Booked for a tackle on Grealish. AFP

Victor Lindelof - 6: Not alert enough for the opening goal and had his hands full with Haaland. Struck by an object thrown from fans after the United penalty, his outstretched leg sent a City ball heading towards his own goal 10 minutes after break. AFP

Raphael Varane - 6: Turned by Haaland who then shot for goal after 20. Had a chance just before break but wasn’t balanced to get a shot on target. It was the type of chance United needed to score to win. Stopped Haaland scoring in front of the 83,179 crowd. Getty

Luke Shaw - 6: Difficult for him as City were so effective pressing United back, but he spotted Silva’s runs and did well up against the Portuguese. AFP

Casemiro - 6: Man of the match in the League Cup final, he didn’t have the same impact though he smelled danger to clear a Haaland attack later in first half. Passes went astray, but he’s still a top performer and important for United in the near future. Getty

Fred - 5: Won the ball ahead of De Bruyne in the first half, made a silly challenge on the same player at the start of the second, which led to a free-kick and City’s second. Booked for a foul on Grealish. He’s been man of the match against City in the past. He was far from that on Saturday. AFP

Christian Eriksen - 5: Stopped a 22nd minute attack, but largely ineffective since he needs the ball to create. And his side didn’t have it enough. AP

Bruno Fernandes - 6: Careless to give the ball to Grealish after 5, but stepped up to finish the first-half penalty, side footing calmly past Ortega to level the score. Did well to get a cross late in game. PA

Marcus Rashford - 5: Central and on the left. Often had two defenders with him. Tame header towards goal midway through first half. Made key runs in difficult circumstances, ran back to win the ball after 66. Struck shot well moments later, but flew over. EPA

Jadon Sancho - 5: Played as a central striker at times and had a couple of half-chances and encouraging runs as he tried to weave through City, though it was difficult against Walker and Rodri. Booed by fans of his former club when he came off late in game. AP

SUBS: Alejandro Garnacho (Eriksen, 61') - 7: Arrival cheered by fans who knew their side needed to be bolder. Clever run, touch and shot wide on 72. United pushed on with him. Getty

Wout Weghorst (Sancho, 77') N/A: United had gone long for most of the match, so arrival was little surprise. Likely to be his final appearance for United. Reuters

Scott McTominay (Lindelof, 82') N/A: Came close to scoring near the end. AFP

“In general we played a really good game. We played with a lot of risk because the threat they have up front is so big, especially with [Marcus] Rashford, but we controlled it really well.

“A final against United is always, for many reasons, difficult but the better team won. We are humble enough to accept how good they are and we did it. We're really pleased.

“Winning the FA Cup, the emotions are so, so special and to celebrate with our people, it is really great.”

Gundogan will be central to City's quest to complete the treble next weekend in Istanbul.

But his future beyond this season remains in doubt with the 32-year-old's contract expiring at the end of the month.

After seven seasons in Manchester, Gundogan has reportedly been tempted by the change of scene and lifestyle offered by Barcelona.

But Guardiola admitted he is still trying to convince the man who was his first signing for City back in 2016 to prolong his stay.

“He knows what I think [of him]. There is no doubt,” said Guardiola.

“We are neighbours, we live on the same floor for many years, he is a close friend of mine but hopefully we can finish in a good way. [City sporting director] Txiki [Begiristain] is working.

“The player is exceptional. This season what he has done is just exceptional.

“Not just being part of the important moments and I don't forget the two goals he scored against Aston Villa [in 2022] and this season many times he’s scored important goals."