‘Manchester City, it can wait, your time will go…’ – 05/06/2023 – Sandro Macedo

Pep Guardiola won again. This time the FA Cup final, against local rivals United. But the most striking thing was the first goal. No tiki-taka with 200 touches of the ball until the defense is dizzy. Gündogan retreated from midfield to the goalkeeper, who kicked Haaland. The latter swept with his head and the ball fell to the same Gündogan to open the scoring from outside the area. Twelve seconds for a goal that Abel, Felipão or Mourinho would gladly score.

In the end, it was 2-1 — with Gündogan scoring another goal after a rehearsed corner kick.

Now his Manchester City are one game away from the perfect season. Next Saturday (10), he will make the Champions League final against Inter Milan, in Istanbul. And, given what the two teams have been doing over the last few months, only a new miracle takes the longed-for triple crown (cup and national title + European title) from Pep Guardiola.

This will be the second final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, currently home to the glorious Karagumruk, eighth in Turkmen. Built in 2002, the arena was the stage for the 2005 Champions League final between Liverpool and Milan, which became known as the Miracle of Istanbul.

On the occasion, Milan, coached by the beloved Carlo Ancelotti, opened 3-0 in the first half, with a goal by Maldini and two by Crespo. In the final stage, led by Gerrard, Liverpool tied with three goals in seven minutes. In penalties, the goalkeeper-dancer Dudek (who never did anything again), was the hero of Liverpool’s title with two defenses – the penalty taker Dida only caught one.

It was a different era from the current one and Milan had more strength in the squad and in the bank account, which has changed radically in the last two decades. Hence Liverpool’s comeback was considered a miracle.

Istanbul was supposed to host the 2020 final, but the pandemic prompted a change of venue. At the time, the eight finalist clubs entered a kind of bubble, in Lisbon, until the decision between Bayern (champion) and PSG.

Interestingly, the very final has an English team (almost Arab) against a team from Milan. But it will take the entire Vatican on standby for Internazionale to pull off anything like the 2005 miracle.

For many, it was a miracle (and luck) that Inter reached the final. On the way, the draw was kind and the Italians faced Porto, Benfica and local rivals Milan. Let’s just say it wasn’t any big hurdle. City, on the other hand, faced Red Bull Leipzig and then the quarries Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Kneaded them all.

A City title also means this year’s Libertadores champions will have the opportunity to play a rare friendly against Pep Guardiola’s side in the pre-season tournament known as the Club World Cup. Chance for some fans to sing the Christmas carol “Manchester City, wait, your time will come…”.

If City v Inter does not promise much emotion, there is a big game yet to take place in Europe: West Ham v Fiorentina, in the Conference League final in Prague, which should have a reasonable presence of festive hooligans.

Kind of Serie C on the continent, the Conference League is becoming a great opportunity for traditional teams to lift any kind of trophy. Last year, Roma and Feyenoord already had a grand final.

Perhaps the Conference champion should be invited to participate in the Club World Cup. A Fiorentina x Palmeiras or West Ham x Flamengo look like much more feasible games.

Bia Haddad gagging
Bia Haddad played the longest game of the year in women’s tennis to reach the Roland Garros quarterfinals. After almost four hours and a comeback like Gustavo Kuerten already provided on clay, she could have even drawn her heart on clay. Who knows, maybe not after this Wednesday’s match (7), against the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who was already number 2 in the ranking?

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