• MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson – 8. His extraordinary, incisive through ball put Zinchenko free to set up the first goal. His distribution was not always quite that solid, but he was a reassuring presence between the sticks for City. AFP
    MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson – 8. His extraordinary, incisive through ball put Zinchenko free to set up the first goal. His distribution was not always quite that solid, but he was a reassuring presence between the sticks for City. AFP
  • Kyle Walker – 7. Involved in little drama, but he will take that, given the result on a night when the stakes were so high. AFP
    Kyle Walker – 7. Involved in little drama, but he will take that, given the result on a night when the stakes were so high. AFP
  • John Stones – 7. A stoic presence at the centre of City’s defence, even if it was his centre-back partner Dias who was making more of the most eye-catching blocks. AFP
    John Stones – 7. A stoic presence at the centre of City’s defence, even if it was his centre-back partner Dias who was making more of the most eye-catching blocks. AFP
  • Ruben Dias – 8. Bravely put his head in the way of a driven cross as PSG threatened just before half time, then again from a shot after the break. His courage inspired his team. AFP
    Ruben Dias – 8. Bravely put his head in the way of a driven cross as PSG threatened just before half time, then again from a shot after the break. His courage inspired his team. AFP
  • Oleksandr Zinchenko – 9.5. Will have had his heart in his mouth before being spared a penalty for handball after a VAR referral. Was celebrating not long after as he played a key role in City’s opener. Fully justified his selection in place of Cancelo. He was outstanding. EPA
    Oleksandr Zinchenko – 9.5. Will have had his heart in his mouth before being spared a penalty for handball after a VAR referral. Was celebrating not long after as he played a key role in City’s opener. Fully justified his selection in place of Cancelo. He was outstanding. EPA
  • Fernandinho – 7. Evaded an early booking despite a string of fouls. Which is standard. He played a small but important role in tempering Zinchenko when the game was won but PSG were losing their heads. AFP
    Fernandinho – 7. Evaded an early booking despite a string of fouls. Which is standard. He played a small but important role in tempering Zinchenko when the game was won but PSG were losing their heads. AFP
  • Ilkay Gundogan – 6. Made a timely interception when Di Maria was threatening to shoot just before the break, but was unusually lacking in influence in the midfield battle. AFP
    Ilkay Gundogan – 6. Made a timely interception when Di Maria was threatening to shoot just before the break, but was unusually lacking in influence in the midfield battle. AFP
  • Bernardo Silva – 6. His laxness in possession provided a chance for Di Maria to level, and he was lucky the former Manchester United midfielder shot wide. Outshone by his colleagues. AFP
    Bernardo Silva – 6. His laxness in possession provided a chance for Di Maria to level, and he was lucky the former Manchester United midfielder shot wide. Outshone by his colleagues. AFP
  • Riyad Mahrez – 8. Made no mistake when De Bruyne’s blocked shot fell to him in the 11th minute. Perky throughout as he gave Diallo a torrid night. Ideally placed to double his tally. EPA
    Riyad Mahrez – 8. Made no mistake when De Bruyne’s blocked shot fell to him in the 11th minute. Perky throughout as he gave Diallo a torrid night. Ideally placed to double his tally. EPA
  • Phil Foden – 9. Took a little time to warm to the task, but was purring by the time the interval arrived, notably with a fine mazy dribble. Magnificent wing play to set up Mahrez’s second, and was in his element as the game opened up. EPA
    Phil Foden – 9. Took a little time to warm to the task, but was purring by the time the interval arrived, notably with a fine mazy dribble. Magnificent wing play to set up Mahrez’s second, and was in his element as the game opened up. EPA
  • Kevin de Bruyne – 8. Perfectly assured just when his side needed him. Played an inch perfect pass for Foden to cross for Mahrez’s second goal. AFP
    Kevin de Bruyne – 8. Perfectly assured just when his side needed him. Played an inch perfect pass for Foden to cross for Mahrez’s second goal. AFP
  • SUB: Gabriel Jesus – NA. Not much time to do anything significant, but lucky to emerge unscathed after a reckless lunge from Kimpembe. AFP
    SUB: Gabriel Jesus – NA. Not much time to do anything significant, but lucky to emerge unscathed after a reckless lunge from Kimpembe. AFP
  • SUB: Raheem Sterling – NA. Arrived late to the party, and tried his best to add to the celebrations, but his attempts at quick passes were traded with tiring teammates. Reuters
    SUB: Raheem Sterling – NA. Arrived late to the party, and tried his best to add to the celebrations, but his attempts at quick passes were traded with tiring teammates. Reuters
  • SUB: Sergio Aguero – NA. Made an appearance on his farewell tour, but it felt more sentimental than purposeful. Reuters
    SUB: Sergio Aguero – NA. Made an appearance on his farewell tour, but it felt more sentimental than purposeful. Reuters
  • PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas – 6. Kept out a shot from Mahrez with his legs from a similar position to which he was beaten when City took the lead. Dealt with a testing Foden shot at the start of the second half. EPA
    PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas – 6. Kept out a shot from Mahrez with his legs from a similar position to which he was beaten when City took the lead. Dealt with a testing Foden shot at the start of the second half. EPA
  • Presnel Kimpembe – 6. Got treatment for a head knock in the first half. Had his socks around his ankles and looked exhausted by the end. Lucky only to see yellow for a wild hack at Jesus. Reuters
    Presnel Kimpembe – 6. Got treatment for a head knock in the first half. Had his socks around his ankles and looked exhausted by the end. Lucky only to see yellow for a wild hack at Jesus. Reuters
  • Marquinhos – 7. Made a dominant leap and should have levelled the score on the night, but saw his header hit the bar. Tried to raise his side, but by the end needed to keep a lid on their tempers instead. AFP
    Marquinhos – 7. Made a dominant leap and should have levelled the score on the night, but saw his header hit the bar. Tried to raise his side, but by the end needed to keep a lid on their tempers instead. AFP
  • Abdou Diallo – 5. Had plenty of opportunities to cross in dangerous positions, but wasted each of them. Started the second phase in lacklustre fashion with an unnecessary foul on Mahrez. AFP
    Abdou Diallo – 5. Had plenty of opportunities to cross in dangerous positions, but wasted each of them. Started the second phase in lacklustre fashion with an unnecessary foul on Mahrez. AFP
  • Alessando Florenzi – 5. Caught out of position by Ederson’s pass to Zinchenko for the opener, which earned the wrath of his manager. Subbed once the game had gone. AFP
    Alessando Florenzi – 5. Caught out of position by Ederson’s pass to Zinchenko for the opener, which earned the wrath of his manager. Subbed once the game had gone. AFP
  • Marco Verratti – 7. His scheming was part of the reason that the away side dominated possession of the ball in the first half, but he was petulant once it became obvious the tie was lost. EPA
    Marco Verratti – 7. His scheming was part of the reason that the away side dominated possession of the ball in the first half, but he was petulant once it became obvious the tie was lost. EPA
  • Leandro Paredes – 6. Seldom featured in anything progressive or creative, and mostly spotted when there was squabbling going on. Reuters
    Leandro Paredes – 6. Seldom featured in anything progressive or creative, and mostly spotted when there was squabbling going on. Reuters
  • Mauro Icardi – 3. No-one can replicate Mbappe’s pace, but Icardi often seemed unwilling to even try to break or press quickly. It felt like his side were playing with a player less while he was on. AFP
    Mauro Icardi – 3. No-one can replicate Mbappe’s pace, but Icardi often seemed unwilling to even try to break or press quickly. It felt like his side were playing with a player less while he was on. AFP
  • Neymar – 7. Without his regular foil – Mbappe, who was benched with an injury – alongside him, he looked less willing, or maybe able, to pick passes. EPA
    Neymar – 7. Without his regular foil – Mbappe, who was benched with an injury – alongside him, he looked less willing, or maybe able, to pick passes. EPA
  • Angel Di Maria – 4. Saw his shot from range go inches wide when he had the goal at his mercy after dispossessing Silva. Lost his head when he stamped on Fernandinho, and deservedly saw red. EPA
    Angel Di Maria – 4. Saw his shot from range go inches wide when he had the goal at his mercy after dispossessing Silva. Lost his head when he stamped on Fernandinho, and deservedly saw red. EPA
  • Ander Herrera – 7. Bolted around furiously trying to drive PSG back into the tie. Booked for a puerile response to being denied a free kick. Substituted for fear he was about to turn that into red. Reuters
    Ander Herrera – 7. Bolted around furiously trying to drive PSG back into the tie. Booked for a puerile response to being denied a free kick. Substituted for fear he was about to turn that into red. Reuters
  • SUB: Moise Kean – NA. The on-loan Everton striker had no chance to make an impression after coming on for the ineffectual Icardi, Reuters
    SUB: Moise Kean – NA. The on-loan Everton striker had no chance to make an impression after coming on for the ineffectual Icardi, Reuters
  • SUB: Julian Draxler – NA. The German forward was scarcely spotted after coming on when the tie was as good as lost already. EPA
    SUB: Julian Draxler – NA. The German forward was scarcely spotted after coming on when the tie was as good as lost already. EPA
  • SUB: Danilo – NA. Brought on apparently to calm PSG’s recklessness – only to be cautioned for an ugly challenge on Jesus. AFP
    SUB: Danilo – NA. Brought on apparently to calm PSG’s recklessness – only to be cautioned for an ugly challenge on Jesus. AFP
  • SUB: Colin Dagba – NA. Got an appearance fee, but little else after he was brought on late in the day. EPA
    SUB: Colin Dagba – NA. Got an appearance fee, but little else after he was brought on late in the day. EPA
  • SUB: Mitchel Bakker – NA. Not enough time to make a notable contribution, other than to blunt Mahrez’s chance of netting a third. EPA
    SUB: Mitchel Bakker – NA. Not enough time to make a notable contribution, other than to blunt Mahrez’s chance of netting a third. EPA

Football

Champions League success 'in the stars', says Pep Guardiola after PSG triumph

Man City reach final of Europe's most prestigious club tournament for first time

AFP

May 05, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Pep Guardiola took a swipe at his critics after the Manchester City manager finally led his team to the Champions League final with a 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Riyad Mahrez's two scores at the Etihad Stadium sealed a 4-1 aggregate success after the semi-final second leg.

City will make their first ever Champions League final appearance against Chelsea or Real Madrid in Istanbul on May 29.

It was a cathartic moment for City boss Guardiola, 50, who has been needled by claims that he won the Champions League with Barcelona only because of the genius of Lionel Messi.

The Argentine superstar was crucial to Barca's two Champions League triumphs under Guardiola's management, in 2009 and 2011.

Since leaving Barca in 2012, Guardiola had been unable to return to the Champions League final in three years with Bayern Munich and his first four seasons at City.

But he has taken City to the promised land at last and he was quick to underline how difficult the achievement was.

It's a competition that is so difficult and something in the stars is involved in that

"We fought together and we're in the final of the Champions League and those are nice words," Guardiola said.

"People believe it's easy to arrive in the final of the Champions League.

"Getting to the final now makes sense of what we have done in the past four or five years.

"Manchester United won a title because of John Terry's slip and also in the last minute against Bayern Munich. Real Madrid won a final against Atletico in the 93rd minute.

"It's a competition that is so difficult and something in the stars is involved in that."

Praising City's squad for thriving despite the demands of a gruelling fixture list, Guardiola paid tribute to his players.

"It is for all of us and the club," he said. "I'm incredibly proud and my first thoughts are with the players who didn't play today.

"They all deserved to play, everyone has made a contribution and now it is time to enjoy it.

"Paris win the league every year. They are a team built to win, they fought to the end. They are a huge team but we were so composed.

"They put a lot of players in the middle and we struggled a lot in the first half to high press and we changed at half-time.

"We recovered the ball better in the second half and we were much better in the way we played."

Attention turns to Premier League for Guardiola's men

City have already won the League Cup and with their Champions League final place booked, Guardiola will turn his attention to clinching the Premier League title with a win against Chelsea on Saturday.

"We have to win the league and we have two or three weeks to prepare for the final," he said.

Mahrez was City's key man in the tie as the Algerian's double added to the free-kick he scored to put City 2-1 up in the first leg.

He admitted City knew they had the victory after PSG started lashing out, culminating in Angel Di Maria's needless red card for a petulant stamp on Fernandinho.

Riyad Mahrez scores his and Manchester City's second to ensure comfortable passage to the Champions League final. AP
Riyad Mahrez scores his and Manchester City's second to ensure comfortable passage to the Champions League final. AP

"It was a very good game. We didn't start well but we got the goal and we were more comfortable after that," Mahrez said.

"They had to come at us. We are good on the counter. That's how the two goals came about.

"We could have scored more. They lost their nerve and started to kick us. After the red card it was good for us."