Manchester City have won their first Champions League title, defeating Inter on a 1-0 scoreline in Istanbul tonight.
In a game that Pep Guardiola's side were expected to win comfortably, it was a much closer contest than had been anticipated. The Italian team were resolute throughout, offering little encouragement to the opposition throughout.
Rodri's strike in the second half would ultimately prove to be the difference, and while Ederson would be forced to make a couple of top class saves in the dying moments, City ultimately got over the line to complete the final part of the treble.
Man City lead in the Champions League final!! 🤩
Rodri breaks the deadlock to score a massive goal for his club! ⚽️#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/DyTitSzOyu— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 10, 2023
Manchester City deserve every credit for capping off a remarkable season in style, becoming only the second English club to win a treble following Manchester United in 1998/99.
In saying that, there has been a bit of a strange feeling in the air on the back of this result.
This moment felt completely inevitable, and not only this season. City have been on course for this achievement for quite some time, building a team and club in a manner that many have found difficult to stomach. That is without even mentioning their previous punishments for UEFA, as well as the 115 charges they are currently facing from the Premier League.
However, as we have come to expect, none of this was mentioned on a certain British broadcaster.
Viewers disgusted by BT Sport coverage of Manchester City triumph
BT Sport have become known for their bias approach to covering the involvement of English clubs in Europe. It has been a recurring theme in recent seasons.
The way in which they has continually ignored the elephant in the room when it comes to Manchester City has been particularly egregious, meaning you would have expected much of the same tonight.
That was indeed the case, as soon as the final whistle sounded.
Once the game ended, BT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher read what was clearly a prepared monologue on City's victory. It was tough to listen to.
"Tonight, the Manchester rain will taste like champagne!" 🥂
The words of Noel Gallagher as Man City win the Champions League for the first time in their history!! 🤩#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/6hpRzSLYKY— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 10, 2023
They've done it! Manchester City have done it! Once, twice, three times a champion, champions of Europe finally!
History made in Istanbul! The treble complete! The greatest story in club history has an ending and what a final chapter...
I asked Noel Gallagher, the iconic song writer and Man City fan, to sum up what this moments feels like to him.
He said 'there had been so many nights when these fans travelled home from Europe battered, bruised, beaten, and conquered, but not tonight, tonight the Manchester rain will taste like champagne.
Many of the viewers found this to be nothing short of stomach-churning stuff.
The line about it being 'the greatest story in club history' went down particularly poorly. Unlike what BT Sport had us believe, this was certainly no cinderella story.
"The greatest story in club history has an ending." What?
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) June 10, 2023
“The greatest story in club history”
Possibly the worst take anyone has ever had on commentary ever. Sackable offence. Dear Lord 😂— Onset (@OnsetMTH) June 10, 2023
BT sport commentary talking about this City team as if it’s the greatest underdog story in history and they’ve beaten all the odds to win it
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) June 10, 2023
The way BT are talking about City is like they’ve forgotten they have spent billions creating an unbelievable football team.
This isn’t a fairytale, its all just a bit meaningless. pic.twitter.com/Tagx2M0MmO— Big Jon Bass (@TheRealJonbass) June 10, 2023
BT Sports just said "the greatest club story in history is complete".
City were banned by UEFA for financial irregularities and currently suspected of 115 cases of breaking the financial rules.— Simon Ashby (@the_mediaman1) June 10, 2023
As you might have guessed, the coverage that followed from this point was equally off-putting for the senses.
It even included pitch side reporter Des Kelly getting an autograph from Ilkay Gundogan on the pitch.
"Today we made history!" 🤩
Ilkay Gundogan talks to @TheDesKelly after winning the treble! 🏆🏆🏆#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/8mCAdEm6eL— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 10, 2023
Did Des Kelly just do that???? Good grief.
— Simon Clancy (@SiClancy) June 10, 2023
I have to say @btsport is a shambles 😂 Balotelli as a pundit, terrible. Lescott as Co comms was horrendous and then Des Kelly getting an autograph live on TV. Give it back to sky, this is shocking stuff 🤦🏻♂️
— Cormac McAllister (@cormacmcall) June 10, 2023
Another abysmal performance from BT Sport. Jake Humphrey admitting live on air they’ve paid Balotelli thousands, Rio saying “good luck” to Grealish after winning the treble & now Des Kelly getting an autograph live on air.
Fans deserve better football coverage. #UCLfinal— Alex Mc (@aa_mcintosh22) June 10, 2023
It was poor.
You need to expect more from someone who has been given the opportunity to cover such a big occasion.
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