CHRISTMAS OFFER - 25% OFF 1 YEAR STANDARD SUBSCRIPTIONS
Greatest European Nights

My greatest European night

Manchester City supporters’ club representative Kevin Parker recounts the night his team etched their names into history

Manchester City 1-0 Inter

Final, 10 June 2023

I’m normally a very superstitious person with my football. That includes crazy things like wearing heavy coats in the middle of summer and making sure I wear the correct scarf, cologne and what have you. But I was very relaxed before the Champions League final. Sometimes you just feel that destiny is written, and I felt it was our time.

Once you’re in the stadium, the whole thing hits you: how big it could be for us. I remember reading that the majority of teams who lost their first Champions League final went on to win it the second time around. I was trying to find all the silver linings to distract me from what could’ve been a very dark cloud. 

Pep Guardiola got it tactically spot on. We were all surprised when he didn’t play Kyle Walker, but Manuel Akanji’s vital pass through to Bernardo Silva led to the goal, so as usual the genius that is Pep got it right. 

Manchester City 1-0 Inter

Final, 10 June 2023

I’m normally a very superstitious person with my football. That includes crazy things like wearing heavy coats in the middle of summer and making sure I wear the correct scarf, cologne and what have you. But I was very relaxed before the Champions League final. Sometimes you just feel that destiny is written, and I felt it was our time.

Once you’re in the stadium, the whole thing hits you: how big it could be for us. I remember reading that the majority of teams who lost their first Champions League final went on to win it the second time around. I was trying to find all the silver linings to distract me from what could’ve been a very dark cloud. 

Pep Guardiola got it tactically spot on. We were all surprised when he didn’t play Kyle Walker, but Manuel Akanji’s vital pass through to Bernardo Silva led to the goal, so as usual the genius that is Pep got it right. 

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

I have a friend who I’ve been going to games with for many years and, just before Rodri scored, she said, “I need to go to the bathroom – I promise you we’re going to score now.” And we did! She wasn’t even disappointed she missed it because it was such an important moment.

You always become more nervous once you take the lead because you’ve got more to lose; the Champions League was now in our hands. You knew at some stage that Inter were going to throw everything at it. They pushed hard, created some great chances and, if not for Ederson, we’d have headed to extra time.

I was certainly relieved when the referee blew the whistle. It was the strangest feeling: I didn’t know whether I was celebrating the Champions League, celebrating the treble or something else. In my 50 years as a season-ticket holder, it was something I never thought we’d achieve. I slept well that night, that’s for sure.

Manchester City 1-0 Inter

Final, 10 June 2023

I’m normally a very superstitious person with my football. That includes crazy things like wearing heavy coats in the middle of summer and making sure I wear the correct scarf, cologne and what have you. But I was very relaxed before the Champions League final. Sometimes you just feel that destiny is written, and I felt it was our time.

Once you’re in the stadium, the whole thing hits you: how big it could be for us. I remember reading that the majority of teams who lost their first Champions League final went on to win it the second time around. I was trying to find all the silver linings to distract me from what could’ve been a very dark cloud. 

Pep Guardiola got it tactically spot on. We were all surprised when he didn’t play Kyle Walker, but Manuel Akanji’s vital pass through to Bernardo Silva led to the goal, so as usual the genius that is Pep got it right. 

My greatest European night
Greatest European Nights

My greatest European night

Manchester City supporters’ club representative Kevin Parker recounts the night his team etched their names into history

Manchester City 1-0 Inter

Final, 10 June 2023

I’m normally a very superstitious person with my football. That includes crazy things like wearing heavy coats in the middle of summer and making sure I wear the correct scarf, cologne and what have you. But I was very relaxed before the Champions League final. Sometimes you just feel that destiny is written, and I felt it was our time.

Once you’re in the stadium, the whole thing hits you: how big it could be for us. I remember reading that the majority of teams who lost their first Champions League final went on to win it the second time around. I was trying to find all the silver linings to distract me from what could’ve been a very dark cloud. 

Pep Guardiola got it tactically spot on. We were all surprised when he didn’t play Kyle Walker, but Manuel Akanji’s vital pass through to Bernardo Silva led to the goal, so as usual the genius that is Pep got it right. 

Penalty Pedigree

Etiam erat velit scelerisque in dictum non. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at. Scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl. Nulla at volutpat diam ut venenatis. At urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Leo a diam sollicitudin tempor id eu nisl nunc mi. Dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Pharetra convallis posuere morbi leo urna molestie. Adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat scelerisque. In arcu cursus euismod quis. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at lectus urna duis. Facilisi nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum sed arcu non. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant. Vitae sapien pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus. Eget nullam non nisi est sit amet facilisis. Ipsum consequat nisl vel pretium lectus quam. Elit sed vulputate mi sit amet mauris commodo quis. Pretium fusce id velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti.

Manchester City 1-0 Inter

Final, 10 June 2023

I’m normally a very superstitious person with my football. That includes crazy things like wearing heavy coats in the middle of summer and making sure I wear the correct scarf, cologne and what have you. But I was very relaxed before the Champions League final. Sometimes you just feel that destiny is written, and I felt it was our time.

Once you’re in the stadium, the whole thing hits you: how big it could be for us. I remember reading that the majority of teams who lost their first Champions League final went on to win it the second time around. I was trying to find all the silver linings to distract me from what could’ve been a very dark cloud. 

Pep Guardiola got it tactically spot on. We were all surprised when he didn’t play Kyle Walker, but Manuel Akanji’s vital pass through to Bernardo Silva led to the goal, so as usual the genius that is Pep got it right. 

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

I have a friend who I’ve been going to games with for many years and, just before Rodri scored, she said, “I need to go to the bathroom – I promise you we’re going to score now.” And we did! She wasn’t even disappointed she missed it because it was such an important moment.

You always become more nervous once you take the lead because you’ve got more to lose; the Champions League was now in our hands. You knew at some stage that Inter were going to throw everything at it. They pushed hard, created some great chances and, if not for Ederson, we’d have headed to extra time.

I was certainly relieved when the referee blew the whistle. It was the strangest feeling: I didn’t know whether I was celebrating the Champions League, celebrating the treble or something else. In my 50 years as a season-ticket holder, it was something I never thought we’d achieve. I slept well that night, that’s for sure.

Manchester City 1-0 Inter

Final, 10 June 2023

I’m normally a very superstitious person with my football. That includes crazy things like wearing heavy coats in the middle of summer and making sure I wear the correct scarf, cologne and what have you. But I was very relaxed before the Champions League final. Sometimes you just feel that destiny is written, and I felt it was our time.

Once you’re in the stadium, the whole thing hits you: how big it could be for us. I remember reading that the majority of teams who lost their first Champions League final went on to win it the second time around. I was trying to find all the silver linings to distract me from what could’ve been a very dark cloud. 

Pep Guardiola got it tactically spot on. We were all surprised when he didn’t play Kyle Walker, but Manuel Akanji’s vital pass through to Bernardo Silva led to the goal, so as usual the genius that is Pep got it right. 

Penalty Pedigree

Etiam erat velit scelerisque in dictum non. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at. Scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl. Nulla at volutpat diam ut venenatis. At urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Leo a diam sollicitudin tempor id eu nisl nunc mi. Dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Pharetra convallis posuere morbi leo urna molestie. Adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat scelerisque. In arcu cursus euismod quis. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at lectus urna duis. Facilisi nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum sed arcu non. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant. Vitae sapien pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus. Eget nullam non nisi est sit amet facilisis. Ipsum consequat nisl vel pretium lectus quam. Elit sed vulputate mi sit amet mauris commodo quis. Pretium fusce id velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti.

To access this article, as well as all CJ+ content and competitions, you will need a subscription to Champions Journal.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
close
Special Offers
christmas offer
Christmas CHEER
Up to 40% off
Start shopping
50% off
game night flash sale!!!
Don't miss out
00
Hours
:
00
minutes
:
00
Seconds
Valid on selected products only. subscriptions not included
close