Pep Guardiola (City) wins the FA Cup, now Inter in the Champions League. But the team is tired – Corriere.it

Manchester City raises the FA Cup, the second trophy of the season after the Premier League, in the sky over Wembley, in anticipation of the Champions League final against Inter. One game from treble, the hat-trick that nobody has achieved since 1999, 24 years ago, when the other Manchester team, Sir Alex Ferguson’s United, had hit it. And just against the Red Devils, Pep Guardiola puts another piece of the complicated and fascinating puzzle of a season that could become unrepeatablethe 13th trophy on the Citizens bench, the 34th of his formidable coaching career. And he still gets excitedso much so that at the end of a very complicated game, after embracing his players, he can’t hold back a few tears.

City wins with a brace from captain Gundogan
, whose contract is expiring and could leave at the end of the season, two volleys from outside the area, the first after 13 seconds without United having practically touched the ball, the second 6′ into the second half. In the middle, the penalty from Bruno Fernandes’ provisional 1-1.

But there are shadows. City are the best team in the world but not unattainable, not now, at least. Good news comes from London for Inter. Giants are not invulnerable. Inzaghi, who will watch the match again today, will have many notes to take. One week before the final in Istanbul, not everything works out in Pep’s orchestra. Haaland strives and squeezes, but cumbersome and does not score. The fantastic DeBruynereturning from an injury, put his foot in both goals, but less glittery than usual. Bernardo Silva and Grealishthe lock picks of the Citizens, they never find the right way out. The least effective game. At times City looked tired and inaccurate and suffered as United managed to avoid the first pressure and attacked vehemently.

We will need the best Inter, this is evident, but with the high intensity, the push from Dumfries and Dimarco and the surgical restarts from Barella, the English could get into trouble. In the last half hour United played all out and Guardiola’s disciples were in trouble, showing clear signs of tiredness. Ortega, in recovery, saves on McTominay.

Pep is already focused on Inter. The Champions League, won only on the Barcelona bench, the obsession with him and after shaking hands with Prince William looks ahead. We deserved the Cup. But we know that, to get the recognition we deserve, we have to win in Europe. We will play the most important match in Manchester City’s history against Inter on Saturday. Maybe even of Guardiola’s story.