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On paper a total mismatch caused by top teams not winning their groups and the knock-out draw ultimately putting the 7 best sides/most likely winners in one half of the draw and all the Italian sides in the other side of the draw with teams from minor leagues and Tottenham.

In one half of the draw was City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern & Dortmund plus RB Leipzig.

In the other half of the draw was Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Benfica, Porto, Frankfurt, Club Brugge & Tottenham.

City should be winning this 4 or 5-0. Especially if they score in the first 15-20 minutes.

Inter will probably be the most defensive side in a Final since Red Star Belgrade defended for 120 minutes and then beat Marseille on penalties in 1991.

I've got a couple of bets on this. All for a comfortable city win and various other bits and bobs. Can't see it going any other way

Think it might be a lot tighter than most people think
Inter will sit back and let City have the ball but they’re no mugs.

Ffs it’s got embarrassingly cheesy

The Pepsi pre match show! Wtf.

If I’d wanted to watch dancing over football I’d have stuck riverdance on

The Pepsi kick off show!! Is Diana Ross on at half time

Grealish doing that imaginary card waving thing that only foreigns do.

I think I’ll have a nap and set my phone to wake me up when the penalties start.

BT Sport free YouTube stream here.

[youtube]iVcqVxaauJo[/youtube]

Quoted from Abdul19

Grealish doing that imaginary card waving thing that only foreigns do.

He’s Irish anyway.

How boring can a game of football get, kick it forwards and they might actually score a goal

Is anyone else watching this and thinking it’s not a level playing field?

If only City were allowed to field a B-team in L1/L2, they might one day be able to win Big Cup.

City need to get Kyle Walker on. They're basically being forced into a 4-2-3-1 by Inter's very high and aggressive press. Kyle Walker's pace, calmness and experience will help resolve that and allow City to regain their shape.

Football is getting like chess. It's boring if you don't appreciate the skill/concentration involved from both sides tonight.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

City need to get Kyle Walker on. They're basically being forced into a 4-2-3-1 by Inter's very high and aggressive press. Kyle Walker's pace, calmness and experience will help resolve that and allow City to regain their shape.

Completely right, neither Grielish or Bernardo can get in behind them.

Inter to knick it or pens.

Why does pep do it in the big one ? Leaving Walker out was just odd ..... Very odd ... It's far too predictable from city .

Quoted from lukeo

Football is getting like chess.

In that you have to shove vibrating anäl beads up your āss to tell you what move to do next?

My biggest gripe is Pep wearing a suit for this and a hoody for the FA Cup final. Appreciate one is far more important to him but come on, man.

Might as well be watching Guatemala v Lichtenstein for all the passion and enjoyment that’s coming out of this game

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Might as well be watching Guatemala v Lichtenstein for all the passion and enjoyment that’s coming out of this game

The fúcking godawful venue doesn’t help. I don’t know what the Turks have got on the UEFA bigwigs but they know how to blag a big final.

It’s like the London Stadium in the sun.

Quoted from It Bites

Why does pep do it in the big one ? Leaving Walker out was just odd ..... Very odd ... It's far too predictable from city .

He’s not fully fit, back issue apparently.

Inter doing what the Italian sides are the best at.

Quoted from Poojah

The fúcking godawful venue doesn’t help. I don’t know what the Turks have got on the UEFA bigwigs but they know how to blag a big final.

Venue for one of Liverpool's greatest wins though, if not their greatest considering they were 3-0 down at half-time.

At least Inter are not just sitting back and letting City knock it about, harassing in numbers, if more premiership clubs at least had a go then the league may not be such a one horse race,eg, the two teams that have given City a game this season were Brentford and Brighton who never gave them a minute to settle.

Get in.....1-0 City.

Excellent finish from Rodri

Looks like it could be City's night.

Lukaku…how does he miss so many chances in big matches?

Iconic save…it hit him!

“The greatest story in club football history” is literally the biggest exaggeration of all time.

Quoted from Poojah

“The greatest story in club football history” is literally the biggest exaggeration of all time.

Yeah. But. 117 points. +73 goal difference. 4th round of the FA Cup…

Quoted from Poojah

“The greatest story in club football history” is literally the biggest exaggeration of all time.

And we'll all be hearing how Haaland was the difference maker for City despite him hardly getting a kick in either legs of the Semi-Final and the Final.

The most expensive squad ever assembled wins it at the seventh attempt. What a fantastic footballing story.

Hope Fergie is alright tonight.

Man City best team I've seen since the 1970 Brazil side.
Absolutely fantastic footballers.

As much as I'm happy to see an English(of sorts) team win it....Inter could have won it and would have deserved it.

Side note, John Stones is incredible! I don't know what position he was playing as he was everywhere

Does every Man City player have their own member of staff?

Quoted from jaygy

As much as I'm happy to see an English(of sorts) team win it....Inter could have won it and would have deserved it.

Side note, John Stones is incredible! I don't know what position he was playing as he was everywhere

Yeah the money thing is an issue but they could buy any mid field player they want but instead Pep spends time and effort to take an international class defender a mid field player.

Nice touch with the tunnel at the presentation too.

Putting to one side your snobbery of elite football for moment, you can’t help but feel happy for fans of sportswashing tonight.

Scott Carson gets his 2nd Chanpions League winners medal with 2 different English clubs.

Can anyone name another English goalkeeper to achieve this?

I can't figure out if there are more photographers or Man city staff on the pitch

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Scott Carson gets his 2nd Chanpions League winners medal with 2 different English clubs.

Can anyone name another English goalkeeper to achieve this?

Jimmy Rimmer

Quoted from Poojah

Putting to one side your snobbery of elite football for moment, you can’t help but feel happy for fans of sportswashing tonight.

They don’t choose their owners do they?

It was a poor performance from Citeh and a poor game. Good finish for the goal after a rare bit of incisive play, rode their luck after that.

Quoted from HerveJosse

Jimmy Rimmer

👍🏻

Quoted from HerveJosse

Jimmy Rimmer

Did he?

Quoted from aldi_01

Did he?

Learnt it from Lia Nici who probably demonstrated it in a practical lesson on our former PM.

Do people now hate Man City more than Man U ?(genuine question)

I know City have bought success with dirty money but my hatred for Man U still overcomes that , that lad still goes in the lower with his Man U shirt on and I remember the cringey 'yay ' (+my dad had some sort of weird crush on them ) at BP when their score would be announced at half/full time when more than likely they had won again back in the day .

Proper set of glory seekers ,so still would just rather anybody win things than them , even though I don't really watch EPL football as I just prefer Town than all that lot .

We need to apply the football rules that every 10 year old get to learn on Ploggers.

Southampton beat Citeh, we beat Southampton so we’re better than Citeh and this that makes us the true champions of Europe.

I actually thought it was quite a decent game, some good moments and the game constantly felt on a knife edge even right up to the last kick of the game. Every time I’ve seen Lukaku in big games he’s been absolutely shite & last night was no different.

I’m indifferent about City, I don’t particularly like the fact they’ve essentially purchased all of this and I personally think they’ve ruined the PL in terms of a competitive spectacle. However in Europe it’s good to see an English team win & I think their fans get unfair stick. Every interview with fans I’ve seen are people with Manc accents who’ve obviously been through the full journey, those lot deserve some success & I’d rather see them lot have some success than the average Man United fan who’s never been near Old Trafford.

Till the last 10 minutes it was just plain boring I was so happy it didn't go to extra time

Great result for petrostates & human rights abusers across the globe!

Looking forward to Newcastle winning it next year, booting Jamal Khashoggi’s head into the top corner in the last minute V PSG. Perhaps a mass execution as half time entertainment.

I like the way man city play but it irks me when people are saying it was won by an English club... A team with only 2 English players starting the match and run by Abu Dhabi only English on paper

They play all their home games in England tbf.

Quoted from Mappers

Do people now hate Man City more than Man U ?(genuine question)

I know City have bought success with dirty money but my hatred for Man U still overcomes that , that lad still goes in the lower with his Man U shirt on and I remember the cringey 'yay ' (+my dad had some sort of weird crush on them ) at BP when their score would be announced at half/full time when more than likely they had won again back in the day .

Proper set of glory seekers ,so still would just rather anybody win things than them , even though I don't really watch EPL football as I just prefer Town than all that lot .

Nah I was talking about this last week during the FA cup final.
I don’t really know any Man City fans yet I’ve had 40 years of boring United and Liverpool arm chair fans mouthing of in local pubs as if it’s actually their team playing when they’re shown on telly .
I’m hoping for a few more years of misery for United and Liverpool

I’m with you grimps, for the next couple of years I’m all for City winning everything if it means Man U and Liverpool get nowt, then hopefully other clubs can start to compete, trouble is I can only see the petroclubs eventually dominating, at least the FA Cup final from Saudi Arabia at 8 o’clock at night in December will be different!!!

Quoted from Mappers

Do people now hate Man City more than Man U ?(genuine question)

I know City have bought success with dirty money but my hatred for Man U still overcomes that , that lad still goes in the lower with his Man U shirt on and I remember the cringey 'yay ' (+my dad had some sort of weird crush on them ) at BP when their score would be announced at half/full time when more than likely they had won again back in the day .

Proper set of glory seekers ,so still would just rather anybody win things than them , even though I don't really watch EPL football as I just prefer Town than all that lot .

In my opinion, will divide opinions as well no doubt. I know a small number of City fans, and have a cousin over that way, for certain investment has transformed the club, and even with these charges looming over them (which if you look into it the club are confident they have done nothing wrong and are looking forward to blowing the case wide open), the owners are massively popular, they’ve rejuvenated the Eastlands area, built a school, hospital, sixth form college and pumped money into the academy.

They still choose to rent the stadium instead of buying it which gives the council more money. Ticket prices are quite low, season tickets in the third tier behind the goal are or were around £360. Although no doubt they are growing a bigger fan base elsewhere their loyal core hasn’t changed since their blip in the mid to late 90’s, all of which I’ve always found are really grounded, humble and are very aware of where they came from, fair to say the games I know all attend games and don’t take anything for granted.

United and Liverpool fans are harder to gauge as they are everywhere, so little of them who you meet actually attend games, they’ll watch from home or the pub and have no connection to Manchester etc. Most are arrogant, biased and aren’t real football fans living in the real world. I probably dislike United as much as Scunthorpe because of those types of fans.

If City are on that trajectory then one day I’m sure their potential new breed maybe as insufferable but whilst their core fan base reminds grounded then I’m pleased for them, as I will be if or when Newcastle challenge, another great set of fans.

Quoted from ska face

Great result for petrostates & human rights abusers across the globe!

Looking forward to Newcastle winning it next year, booting Jamal Khashoggi’s head into the top corner in the last minute V PSG. Perhaps a mass execution as half time entertainment.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001mlrc

Worth a listen, although Wrexham inevitably are represented. They should have had JS on. Maybe if we’d already got BCorp status, as the first professional sports club to do so, he might have been on.

I struggle to see past Germany as the best model, with the 50+1 ownership rule and cheap tickets, with season tickets at about E12 a game. The 50+1 rule got a cursory mention but there should have been more focus on this as an alternative to our petroclubs.

Happy for the “Kings of the Kippax” fans, but I didn’t watch the game and it’s years since I’ve paid much attention to the CL. The club id most like to see win it is FC Union Berlín.

Well after a month of virtual disbelief at what I’ve witnessed, at least you’ve run a thread on it so fair play The Fishy.

I went to the Madrid 2nd Leg, which was a footballing masterclass, above anything I’ve witnessed by any English club side, let alone by City. Decided against going to Istanbul for health reasons which proved the correct decision judging by reports back from Lincoln Blues who did go.

The City players looked knackered tbh, but deservedly got over the line, to win a first European Cup and ultimately ‘better’ Utd’s 1999 treble. I say this for 2 reasons: 1) City were reigning Prem Lge Champs when they entered this year’s competition and didn’t need to play a qualifying match to enter the Group Stages. 2) City actually beat Utd in the FA Cup Final - that alone is the stuff of dreams and yes I was there to witness that moment of history. 🩵🏆🏆🏆

Quoted from NorfolkImp

Well after a month of virtual disbelief at what I’ve witnessed, at least you’ve run a thread on it so fair play The Fishy.

I went to the Madrid 2nd Leg, which was a footballing masterclass, above anything I’ve witnessed by any English club side, let alone by City. Decided against going to Istanbul for health reasons which proved the correct decision judging by reports back from Lincoln Blues who did go.

The City players looked knackered tbh, but deservedly got over the line, to win a first European Cup and ultimately ‘better’ Utd’s 1999 treble. I say this for 2 reasons: 1) City were reigning Prem Lge Champs when they entered this year’s competition and didn’t need to play a qualifying match to enter the Group Stages. 2) City actually beat Utd in the FA Cup Final - that alone is the stuff of dreams and yes I was there to witness that moment of history. 🩵🏆🏆🏆

Could you change your user name to 2 Team NorfolkImp please

Quoted from NorfolkImp

Well after a month of virtual disbelief at what I’ve witnessed, at least you’ve run a thread on it so fair play The Fishy.

I went to the Madrid 2nd Leg, which was a footballing masterclass, above anything I’ve witnessed by any English club side, let alone by City. Decided against going to Istanbul for health reasons which proved the correct decision judging by reports back from Lincoln Blues who did go.

The City players looked knackered tbh, but deservedly got over the line, to win a first European Cup and ultimately ‘better’ Utd’s 1999 treble. I say this for 2 reasons: 1) City were reigning Prem Lge Champs when they entered this year’s competition and didn’t need to play a qualifying match to enter the Group Stages. 2) City actually beat Utd in the FA Cup Final - that alone is the stuff of dreams and yes I was there to witness that moment of history. 🩵🏆🏆🏆

Eh? I thought you were a Lincoln fan? You come on here bigging up Lincoln (when they get a good result) and having sly digs at the Mariners and it turns out you are a Manchester City fan?

Bizarre, and why anybody would support a random team who just happen to be the best team in the country right now is beyond me. If you come back and say oh, I was supporting Man City when they were rubbish only makes it worse!

I don't understand how anyone can get excited about any team except the one they were born to support (ideally their home town or city!)
A long time ago when I was young ??) >:( I'd 'follow' a few teams and go watch games if Grimsby weren't playing but I'd never support anyone else. My favourite was travelling across to Accrington to watch them a couple of times midweek.
I won't lie, I do miss those days. But this season I'm aiming to double my intake of games providing the train companies sort themselves out alongside a few tasty localish away games for Taunton if I can't get to town games.

David Squires good on this, as expected:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2023/jun/13/david-squires-on-the-greatest-football-season-in-sportswashing-history

Quoted from lukeo

I don't understand how anyone can get excited about any team except the one they were born to support (ideally their home town or city!)
A long time ago when I was young ??) >:( I'd 'follow' a few teams and go watch games if Grimsby weren't playing but I'd never support anyone else. My favourite was travelling across to Accrington to watch them a couple of times midweek.
I won't lie, I do miss those days. But this season I'm aiming to double my intake of games providing the train companies sort themselves out alongside a few tasty localish away games for Taunton if I can't get to town games.

Unless it was a jolly to say Germany, Spain etc..I don't see the attraction of watching other teams other than Town live but will watch them on the TV and if they play decent football I don't get too excited but I do enjoy watching. Also I like to see English Teams do well in Europe.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Eh? I thought you were a Lincoln fan? You come on here bigging up Lincoln (when they get a good result) and having sly digs at the Mariners and it turns out you are a Manchester City fan?

Bizarre, and why anybody would support a random team who just happen to be the best team in the country right now is beyond me. If you come back and say oh, I was supporting Man City when they were rubbish only makes it worse!

Well it's their modus operandi isn't it - there were no Lincoln fans pre-Cowleys, and there were no Citeh fans pre-petrodollars. He'll be NorfolkToon once they've bought a couple of trophies