Athens : Manchester City clinched their first-ever UEFA Super Cup victory by prevailing over Sevilla in a dramatic penalty shootout. The final score of 1-1 at the end of regular time led to a nerve-wracking shootout, with City emerging victorious with a 5-4 scoreline in the penalty kicks.
Youssef En-Nesyri set the tone for the game with a towering header in the 25th minute, giving Europa League champions Sevilla an early lead. However, Manchester City’s 21-year-old rising star Cole Palmer responded with a clinical header of his own in the 63rd minute, levelling the playing field and ultimately leading the match into extra time.
The scorching heat and humidity at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens, Greece, intensified the challenge for both teams. Sevilla’s aggressive high-pressing tactics posed a constant threat to Manchester City’s defence, causing moments of vulnerability throughout the game.
The UEFA Super Cup victory marks the 15th trophy secured by Manchester City during the reign of their manager, Pep Guardiola, which commenced in 2016. This triumph also served as a redemption for their recent loss to Arsenal in England’s Community Shield just ten days ago.
Jack Grealish, City’s midfielder, spoke of the manager’s unwavering determination to clinch this particular trophy, adding an extra layer of motivation for the players. “You want to win everything anyway, but that gave us more of an urge. This club has never won it. It’s a brilliant feeling,” Grealish commented.
The spectacle of the victory was further highlighted when Kyle Walker, Manchester City’s captain, lifted the coveted cup amidst ticker tape and jubilant chants of “Champions” from his teammates on the field.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 16, 2023
For Sevilla, despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the title, there was pride in their performance. Forward Erik Lamela acknowledged the efforts of his team, stating, “The team did a good job; we ran a lot against a very, very good team.”
Manchester City now set their sights on the upcoming Club World Cup in December, aiming to complete the honours list of their esteemed manager, Pep Guardiola, who has already secured an impressive array of titles since his arrival in England. As Guardiola remarked, “We are really pleased for the club to win this. We miss just one to finish the full circle and have all the titles we can have.”
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