Manchester City’s victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final has left many wondering if it marks the start of a new era in European football.
The Abu Dhabi-owned club completed a treble after winning the Premier League and FA Cup, and now have their first triumph in Europe’s elite club competition.
While they have a long way to go to catch Real Madrid’s record haul of 14 victories, City may take some stopping now that they have claimed their first title. “The good thing is that we want more,” said match-winner Rodri. “This project is to want more, more ambition.” City were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 when they had not won the English title in 40 years.
They have since won seven Premier Leagues in 12 seasons, three FA Cups, six League Cups, and now a Champions League trophy.
According to analysts Deloitte, City had the biggest revenues of any football club last year at €731m ($786m).
However, their rise has posed problems for football with City being fined €60m in 2014 for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
Despite these challenges, Pep Guardiola’s brilliance as manager has been key to City’s success.
He acknowledges that none of what City have achieved would be possible without the 2008 takeover: “Listen, one of the main reasons why this club became what we are is because people from Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour, took over the club…Without that we wouldn’t be here.” While Qatar-owned PSG and Saudi-owned Newcastle United will feature in next season’s Champions League, many wonder if Manchester United can hope to catch up with City given enormous investment from the Middle East.
For now though, Guardiola says he wants to work harder next season and be there for another shot at glory.
