Manchester City marked its first look within the UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday so as to add one other piece of silverware to its huge haul below supervisor Pep Guardiola.
After a 1-1 attract regulation time after which 9 profitable spot kicks within the shootout, Nemanja Gudelj struck his try in opposition to the crossbar at hand City victory inside Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.
It was a fifteenth trophy gained by City in Guardiola’s reign that began in 2016 and made up for the loss to Arsenal in a penalty shootout within the Community Shield 10 days in the past.
“The manager made it so clear to us before the game how much he wants to win this trophy,” City midfielder Jack Grealish stated in regards to the annual match between final season’s winners of the Champions League (City) and Europa League (Sevilla). “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.”
Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering header gave Sevilla the lead in the 25th minute of a match played in stifling heat and humidity in Athens.
City equalized through a header by winger Cole Palmer in the 63rd as the European champions dominated the second half, with star striker Erling Haaland staying on the field for the whole game despite a big Premier League match against Newcastle coming up on Saturday.
Guardiola became the second manager, after Carlo Ancelotti, to win the Super Cup four times and the first to win it with three different teams after doing so at Bayern Munich (2013) and Barcelona (2009, 2011).
Kyle Walker lifted the cup amid ticker tape and chants of “Champions” by his City teammates on the stage in the middle of the field. It is becoming a familiar sight, with the club having won the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble last season for the first time.
This season might be tougher for Guardiola and City, with the match perhaps highlighting the team’s need for more creativity and goal threat following the offseason departures of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez and an injury to Kevin De Bruyne that could sideline him for up to four months.
Palmer could be one answer, with the 21-year-old academy product impressing as City’s most dangerous player and nodding in from Rodri’s cross to add to his goal in the Community Shield. He should get more game time this season on the right wing following Mahrez’s move to Saudi Arabia.
“This guy is incredible and he’s got good players to learn off and the best manager in the world,” Walker stated of Palmer. “He must preserve going, preserve his ft on the ground like he has been and preserve scoring objectives. If he retains bettering, he’ll be tremendous.”
Sevilla sometimes troubled City on the break and off one such foray ahead, En-Nesyri received in between Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol — making his first begin for City — and leaping excessive to energy in a header from Marcos Acuña’s left-wing cross.
City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes pulled off two saves from En-Nesyri within the second half, both aspect of Palmer’s purpose, and did not must make a save within the shootout.
Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Grealish and Walker transformed City’s penalties, whereas Lucas Ocampos, Rafa Mir, Ivan Rakitic and Gonzalo Montiel netted for Sevilla.
Sevilla, which gained the Europa League for the seventh time final season, has gained simply gained of its seven appearances within the Super Cup. That was again in 2006 on its debut.
“It’s really frustrating for us, but I’m proud of my teammates,” Sevilla ahead Erik Lamela stated. “The team did a good job, we ran a lot against a very, very good team.”
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
