Manchester City’s Treble-winning side have celebrated their most successful season with an open-top bus parade through the city centre in front of thousands of fans as rain poured down.
Pep Guardiola’s team beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul on Saturday to win the Champions League final for the first time in the club’s history.
The victory added to the Premier League title and the FA Cup which City won earlier in the season, making them the first English club to secure all three trophies since Manchester United in 1999.
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Access to the stage show site on St Peter’s Square, Manchester, was initially delayed due to reports of adverse weather conditions and lightning storms in the area, with the club later confirming the start of the parade from Beetham Tower on Deansgate was put back until 7pm.
The team took the tram to St Peter’s Square, where four buses set off down Deansgate and on to Cross Street, before heading via King Street, Brown Street and then Booth Street with the parade scheduled to finish at Nicholas Street.
Defender Nathan Ake held aloft the Premier League trophy to the delight of the blue-shirted fans who had braved the rain, many following down on foot towards the stage celebrations once the route was clear.
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Midfielder Phil Foden waved the Champions League trophy, while manager Guardiola puffed on a cigar as he took in the scenes.
The players arrived on stage just after 8pm, and the wet weather had done nothing to dampen spirits.
“It had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise it is not Manchester,” Guardiola said to the delight of the waiting crowd.
“We don’t want sunshine, we want rain, so it was perfect. They (fans) are used to the rain.”
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City captain Ilkay Gundogan brought the trophies out onto the stage.
“Thank you very much for all of the support during the whole season,” the midfielder told the crowd.
“It has been incredible and we got three trophies.”
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The players and City staff continued to lead the celebrations on the stage alongside their hard-earned silverware.
City and England midfielder Jack Grealish said: “For the past 24 hours, I have had the best day and night.
“To be fair, I don’t think I have slept.”
