UEFA named Manchester City midfielder Rodri the Champions League Player of the Season on Sunday as City won the trophy for the first time after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in Saturday’s final.
The 26-year-old Spaniard player scored the winning goal in the 68th minute and gave a spectacular performance in the 2022-23 campaign.
“Inter are really good. Be patient, I said at half-time. You have to be lucky. This competition is a coin toss,” Guardiola said.
“It was written in the stars. It belongs to us,” he added.
This season was Guardiola’s seventh attempt to win the Champions League with Manchester City.
“First of all my first words are for Inter, to congratulate them for their performance,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“The second thing is for my sport director, CEO and chairman. Normally when you don’t win the Champions League after so many years you are sacked.”
“One of the main reasons why this club became where we are is the people from Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour [bin Zayed Al Nahyan] took over the club and without that we wouldn’t be here. They are the most important people.”
“They support me unconditionally in the defeats in this competition. In many clubs that would happen and you are sacked so I give incredible credit to my hierarchy to my CEO.”
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante appeared only missed one of Man. City’s Champions League matches, scoring twice. He delivered a standout performance in the final, earning the Player of the Match award. Seven of the 11 spots on the Team of the Season went to Manchester City players.
Other Notable Recognition For The Season
Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was named the Champions League Young Player of the Season.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Defenders: Kyle Walker (Man City), Ruben Dias (Man City), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Federico Dimarco (Inter)
Midfielders: John Stones (Man City), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Rodri (Man City)
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Man City), Erling Haaland (Man City), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)