At the point when Manchester City began placing Genuine Madrid to the sword in the Bosses Association elimination round second leg on Wednesday, there was an unmistakable flood of feeling inside the Etihad Arena that could be felt through TV screens across the world.
Players pumped their chests in celebration, City fans were whipped into a frenzy, and manager Pep Guardiola, who is typically more composed than most, appeared overcome with relief.
This City team has dominated English football for years, winning four Premier League titles in five seasons, but it hasn't really established itself in Europe.
Even though Inter Milan still stands in their way of winning their first Champions League title, City's 4-0 victory on Wednesday felt like the moment they finally established themselves as the world's best team.
City could have been excused for some nerves in the early stages of the game, which was billed as the most anticipated club game of the year. However, it started the game at full speed.
It was one of the most lopsided first halves ever, with City controlling every aspect of the game. In the first 15 minutes, the home team had 80 percent possession and only 13 passes from the away team.
As City executed a high press flawlessly, the star-studded Madrid team appeared perplexed, forcing Luka Modri and Toni Kroos, masters of the midfield, into uncharacteristic errors.
City's quality was simply on another level, cutting Madrid separated at whatever point it so satisfied with Kevin De Bruyne calling the shots and setting the force levels.
"I feel that first half presentation is one of the most outstanding I've at any point seen," previous Manchester City safeguard Nedum Onuoha told Sky Sports.When you consider who it is opposed to. Its planning, in the Heroes Association elimination round, that felt like one of the greatest games ever at that arena.
"It's a disgrace it hasn't prompted a prize since it feels so large."
Madrid could have been even more embarrassed by the break if it weren't for the impressive Thibaut Courtois in goal, who made two excellent saves from Erling Haaland.
In point of fact, it would have been glad to be down just two goals thanks to the brilliant Bernardo Silva.
Madrid worked on in the last part yet was as yet sub-par in pretty much every division as City covered off a significant night with two additional objectives from Manuel Akanj and Julián Álvarez.
It would have been a great presentation against anybody, let alone against the Spanish monster which has won five Bosses Association prizes over the most recent nine years.
"It's unfathomable," City winger Jack Grealish said, subsequent to torturing Los Blancos' protection across the two legs of the elimination round.
A lot of teams wouldn't do that to Real Madrid, in my opinion. I don't have any idea what it is, yet it feels relentless."City must still navigate Inter in the final, despite its superiority, and will be careful not to get carried away.
Despite all of Guardiola's success since his arrival in Manchester in 2016, there appears to be a growing consensus that winning the Champions League will determine his legacy at the club.
He hasn't won the trophy since 2011 when Lionel Messi and Barcelona won it, and his City teams have lost the competition in a variety of ways in recent seasons.
Last year, Madrid delivered a shocking rebound, scoring two objectives in the 90th and 91st moment prior to beating City in extra-time in the return leg of the elimination rounds en route to winning the prize for a record fourteenth time - and it was a second that has plainly stayed with Guardiola's crew.
No comments: