Kevin de Bruyne feared he would suffer Champions League heartbreak after he had to be taken off injured for a second successive European final, while Erling Haaland reflected on an incredible first season at Man City.
The unlucky Belgium playmaker limped out of last night’s final with a hamstring problem (above) after 35 minutes. De Bruyne had suffered concussion, a broken nose and fractured eye socket in the 2021 defeat by Chelsea.
Team-mates rushed to console De Bruyne as he walked off looking close to tears. Manager Pep Guardiola offered his star man a sympathetic double high-five and ruffled his hair as he went to watch the rest of the match from the dug-out.
But he ended up all smiles as City went on to win and confirmed afterwards he had been playing with the injury in last week’s FA Cup Final and their title-winning run-in.
“It’s been a hard two months for me,” he admitted. “I’ve had lots of issues with my hamstring – it snapped.
“I did everything to be ok. It’s a shame as I was feeling well in the first 30 mins and thought I was doing well but the team is good enough and we won, so that’s it.
“It’s amazing, we have been working so long for this, to be part of this history of the club we fully deserve it because we have not lost in the Champions League this year.”
Erling Haaland warning
Team-mate Erling Haaland, meanwhile, warned Manchester City’s rivals that their Treble success has not nearly satisfied his appetite for trophies.
The Norwegian striker has been the focal point of the club’s Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League successes, even though he failed to score in the Istanbul final against Inter Milan.
He said: “Even in my wildest dreams I did not think of this as happening to 22 year old me. It shows it is possible for a guy from a small town in Norway.
“It also gives motivation to other young people in my situation playing football, in an indoor hall in my home town, unbelievable.
“I think after a couple days when this settles a bit, this feeling of winning this trophy I want to do it again for sure. I know this is how I will think.
“We have to defend what we won this season. In a month or two everything is forgotten That’s life.”
