Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sounded a special salute to his first team stars after they sealed a spot in the Champions League final.
Going into the second leg of their semi final against Real Madrid on Wednesday, City were tied 1-1.
However, they dominated Real in the second leg at home, winning 4-0 and having chances to score even more.
“These guys have done it for many years and today they got the reward they deserve. A final against an Italian team,” Guardiola told reporters post-game.
“When the draw was Real Madrid, I said want it. Today it was there. I’m very pleased for the organization, the chairman, owner and players.
“I had the feeling these last days we had a mix of calm and tension to play these types of games.
“After 10 or 15 minutes I had the feeling that all the pain that we had during one season last season was today there. It was so tough and hard here last season – we played quite similarly to the way we played today.
“I remember that in an interview Toni Kroos said Madrid was special because they could have been beaten 10-2 at the Etihad.
“When one of the best players in the world and one of the best I ever trained he says that then we were there. It was tough the way we lost.
“You have to swallow poison and swallow everything, be kind and football and sport always gives you another chance.
“We accept defeat and today we were there.
“Football and life always gives you an opportunity and the important thing is to never give up and try again.
“The important thing is to be there and we are one game away from being Premier League winners.
“If it happens we are three years in a row winners of the Premier League and twice in a Champions League final and one semi-final and that is consistency.”
