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Guardiola hails City’s incredible performance to reach first Champions League final

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has heaped praises on his players for their incredible performance in the two-legged triumph over last year’s finalists, Paris Saint-Germain.

After an impressive 2-1 comeback victory in France last week, Riyad Mahrez netted two goals in the return leg on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium to send the Citizens into their first finals of the competition.

It is also City’s first time in the final with Guardiola who is also reaching the last two for the first time since he won the competition with Barcelona in 2011, according to Sky Sports.

Speaking after the match, the Spaniard said: “We beat a team that knocked out Barcelona and Bayern Munich,” he said.
“We struggled early on but were much better in the second half. It was an incredible, huge victory for us.

“What the players have done this season is incredible in the toughest year for everyone. Being so close to winning the Premier League and in the final of the Champions League is so good.”

“My first words are for the players who didn’t play. I know how tough it is,” he said.

“My second are for our owners, chairman, all the people from Abu Dhabi. Then the players who played before for us – Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee.

“Then the guys that helped to take the club to another level – Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio (Aguero), who is still here. Many players helped us to be at this stage, we want to share it with them.

“Without them it would not possible.”
He added: “Of course, we’ve invested money in the last decade since Sheikh Mansour took over the club, but it’s not just about this.

“If you want to think it’s just about money, it’s okay. But there is a lot of incredible things behind the scenes, a lot of people working, supporting and a clear strategy to do it.

“What we have done the last four years has been incredible, in terms of the Premier Leagues, the Carabao Cups, the cups and in every competition we’ve played.

“To reach the Champions League final is so difficult. It’s the toughest one but we did it. We’ve had an incredible Champions league season and now, we deserve to be there. We are going to play the final.”



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