Manchester City have won their first-ever Champions League and a treble after a 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
Midfielder Rodri scored from 15 yards out in the 68th minute to secure a victory over the Italian side at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul – capping an unforgettable season for Pep Guardiola’s side.
It means City have become the first English Premier League club since United to win a treble of all three major trophies in one season.
Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour was also present to watch his team’s victoryon Saturday evening.
It was only the second game he has attended since his investment vehicle, the Abu Dhabi United Group, purchased City in 2008.
The club has risen to become the dominant force in the English game under Mansour’s stewardship, having won seven Premier League titles in the past 12 years and five of the last six.
This wasn’t Manchester City at their all-conquering best, but it was enough to conquer Europe.
The near-misses, mishaps and misfortune of 11 previous Champions League attempts all providing the grounding to grind out the 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
Grit produced the glory – with a winner from Rodri rather than goal machine completing a treble.
It matches the feat of their great rivals Manchester United in 1999 to confirm their own sporting greatness.
But unlike United’s treble, this is one defined by the billions of Abu Dhabi funding that assembled the squad rather than a core of academy graduates reaching the pinnacle.
And all this City success will be clouded by past UEFA fines – and as long as the Premier League takes to conclude a case into alleged financial wrongdoing to assemble the squad.
A squad whose domination of football was confirmed on a Saturday night in Istanbul.
Black smoke billowed over the stadium in the hours prior to kick-off due to a fire at a nearby factory, but it didn’t affect the game.
After a slow start to the game, City suffered a serious blow 10 minutes before half-time when Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
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The Belgian had initially tried to run off the problem but was forced to admit defeat and was replaced by Phil Foden.
Assessing his own contribution in frank terms, Rodri added: “I wasn’t good in the first half – I was playing s***, to be honest and then we talk about mentality, I just said to myself, ‘You have to calm the situation’. At the end, I scored a goal. Unbelievable.”
Manchester City’s treble brought back memories for Mario Balotelli, who accomplished the same feat with Inter Milan in 2010.
He told BT Sport: “When you win the Champions League, when you win it with a club it’s I think the highest emotion you can feel, you can have. In this moment it is even difficult to think, to speak, so I understand it totally.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Timesthe properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
TV presenter Katie Piper has revealed her decision to get an artificial eye, 16 years after an acid attack that left her with life-changing injuries and partial blindness.
The Loose Women panellist, 41, is an advocate for those with burns and disfigurement injuries.
She shared a video of her being fitted with the prosthetic on Instagram.
Piper said: “After many years battling with my eye health, I’ve reached the end of the road somewhat, and the decision has been made to try a prosthetic eye shell.
“This marks the start of a journey to have an artificial eye, with an incredible medical team behind me.
“As always I’m incredibly grateful to all those in the NHS and private health care system for their talent and kindness.
“I will share my journey, I’m hopeful and nervous about being able to tolerate it and would love to hear from any of you in the comments if you’ve been on this journey or have any advice.”
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Commenting on the post, presenter Lisa Snowdon said Piper was a “warrior” and a “true inspiration”.
Piper has undergone hundreds of operations after suffering an acid attack arranged by her ex-boyfriend in March 2008.
She gave up her right to anonymity and made a documentary in 2009 called Katie: My Beautiful Face.
Piper also founded the Katie Piper Foundation which supports survivors of life-changing burns and scars, and has received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Surgeons to mark her ground-breaking work.
She was made an OBE in 2021 for her services to charity and burn victims.