The cheat sheet of Manchester City – Inter (1-0): To hell with the way, it’s the coronation of excellence

The game: City foiled, but City won

The players: Ederson, present at the right time

He really hadn’t been reassuring throughout the match. But by intervening on three clear chances from Inter, the last in added time, Ederson was ultimately City’s defining man. Like Rodri, full of composure when scoring the winning goal after an action beautifully initiated by Manuel Akanji. Highly anticipated, Erling Haaland struggled to exist, and the early exit of Kevin de Bruyne did not help him. At Inter, the defensive trio Darmian-Acerbi-Bastoni was impeccable, like Federico Dimarco, omnipresent on the left.

The X Factor: Lukaku, Still in Hell

He was able to make the difference off the bench. Romelu Lukaku got the opportunity after replacing Edin Dzeko. The Belgian was unfortunate to find himself in the path of a header from his team-mate Federico Dimarco who took the direction of the goal, even if Ruben Dias had returned to defend on his line. Above all, he committed the clumsiness of placing a point-blank header on Ederson when the cage was wide open. A cursed evening for Lukaku. One more, after the one he had experienced against Croatia against the World Cup. It’s hard.

At the state: 3

Manchester City scored a fabulous hat-trick that bears the hallmark of Josep Guardiola. The Catalan technician had already signed this feat with Barça in 2009. He is now the only one to have achieved it with two different clubs. It’s very strong.

The declaration: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

The question: Does the way really matter?

We expected an apotheosis. A dazzling coronation, at the height of the exceptional quality of play that Josep Guardiola’s team is capable of. So there will remain a small hint of bitterness for all those who were expecting a fireworks display. It was far from the most exhilarating final in the history of the competition. It will be very easily forgotten. Much more than the consecration of a club which has fully deserved its rise to the top of Europe.

City arrived in its place. His dominance in the game was already very clear in recent seasons. She reached a rare level on a course marked by her demonstrations against Bayern and Real. His coronation is first and foremost that of his collective superiority. He had missed a little something against Chelsea in the final two years ago, and even less against Real in the semi-finals last season. A form of pragmatism that the English club has finally found to defeat Inter and lift the trophy.

City was built on some disappointments. He learned from it. He never turned away from his project, sure of his ability to achieve the greatest of goals. Its triumph is that of excellence and regularity. His quality of play was perhaps not optimal in this final. But that doesn’t matter. The important thing was to get to the top. And City did it in a superb way.