Manchester City won the Champions League for the first time in their history–but they had to struggle to earn the desired victory. 

But before Rodri’s winner in the 68th minute it was different Man City who looked struggling to gain its typical supremacy through the maximum possession against Inter Milan's inspiring pressing style of football. City already came out of the edge when goalkeeper Ederson, rising to his best and made two crucial saves at the death. Speaking after the final whistle, City players made it clear that they did not play their best match, with Inter’s high press suffocating their attempts to build from the back.

Man City's woe had already increased by Kevin De Bruyne's departure from the field following a hamstring injury in the 36th minute. Inter frequently swarmed to the ball, forcing mistakes from City’s players, who could not get Erling Haaland into the game with regularity. 

Pep Guardiola once again emerged as the key man motivating his team. He looked screaming only a word from the touchline, 'Relax'! The reflection of the message was vivid. City shrugged off its first-half inactivity, specifically the helplessness after the break and earned some sort of control in the second half.

Guardiola hinted at his message to the players in a post-match interview with BT Sport. "They are really good. Be patient, I said at half-time,” he said. “You have to be lucky. Ederson or they miss it, they could draw. This competition is a coin. 

"It was written in the stars. It belongs to us. We weren't at our best level. After the World Cup the team made a step forward and we were there. It wasn't our best performance.”