Manchester City’s huge transfer expenses are often blamed for taking the easy way and buying successes. Thereby you diminish your accomplishments Pepa Guardioliwho reportedly came to the ready everywhere, took the best teams and strengthened them with his dream players. And of course it is true that he has already spent close to half a billion pounds at City, but at the same time it is unfair not to see how many rebuilt players there are in his team. John Stones, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez were all down, seemed to be in their top form a long time ago, yet they were the key players in winning the final.
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Riyad Mahrez is the key to the Champions League final
Riyad Mahrez in line for admiration and collecting praise is usually behind Kevinem De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Gundogan. Therefore, his good form in recent months may have escaped the fans a bit. The Algerian is a good symbol of Manchester City’s success this season of the Champions League: a combination of big money with solid coach work. It cost 67 million euro, but did not immediately become the team leader. Only this season, and in recent months, has it reached its highest level. Back in January and February, in the convoluted rotation system adopted by Guardiola, he seemed to be a backup, the media speculated that the club would not offer him a new contract and try to sell in the next transfer window. But since it started serious game w Champions League, was already undeniable: he assisted against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the 1/8 finals, the quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund ended with a goal and an assist, and in the semi-finals with PSG he scored a total of three goals. Champions League appearances are no coincidence, as Mahrez has contributed to Manchester City’s six goals in their last eight league games.
Perhaps the most about Manchester City said his free-kick goal in the first leg against PSG. It was 1: 1. Kevin De Bruyne already scored one goal and was about to strike from behind the wall. The position was convenient. It was enough to curl the ball well. But Mahrez asked the Belgian if he could strike. “If you believe in yourself, beat it,” said De Bruyne, who explained to reporters after the game that he enjoyed building his teammates as much as scoring goals. In this situation, he could help Mahrez without even touching the ball. Few stars under such circumstances could afford a similar gesture. Would Cristiano Ronaldo give the ball to someone else to bring the team closer to the finals? But Guardiola’s team is the most democratic in the forefront of this season’s Champions League. There is not one star in the attack, but as many as six players, who have a dozen or so goals this season.
Perhaps Mahrez felt that there – in Paris, only 20 kilometers from where he grew up – he was ready to fire one of the most important shots of his life. He was lucky. – It wasn’t a good shot. I wanted the ball to pass the wall, but failed to hit it well, so it flew a little closer to the center. However, she passed between the two players and fell into the goal. A great moment. I do not know if it is the greatest since I am in Manchester, but I am very happy that I am in such a good shape at the most important moment of the season – he said after the game.
The rematch built by this success was even more effective. Already in the 11th minute he caught the reflected ball, hit between Keylor Navas’ legs and bet PSG against the wall. Mauricio Pochettino’s players needed three goals to advance. They could not answer even once. In the 63rd minute, the Algerian did the trick, ending with a close-up shot from his team’s perfect counterattack.
Manchester City – a team of resurrected footballers
Mahrez is not the only Manchester City player to make a resurgence this season. Before his start, few expected that the still failing John Stones would be defensive, although he was on the bench in the most important match of the Champions League last season with 19-year-old Eric Garcia on the pitch. Or that Ilkay Gundogan will score sixteen goals in one season and run for the Football of the Year title in Premier League. Phil Foden also exceeded expectations. Half of Europe knew he had enormous talent, but he had glimpses last season, and it was only here that he made himself at home in the starting line-up. You can look further: 36-year-old Fernandinho helped to concrete the center of the field in the semi-finals, the questioned Kyle Walker did not allow anything Neymarowiand Joao Cancelo, who was included in almost every big one in the summer by the media transfer For Manchester City, he stayed with the club as a way of breaking the price, and from game to game he changed positions to ultimately have a significant impact on winning the England championship and reaching the Champions League final. A team full of resurrected footballers is going to Istanbul.
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