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In 2023, Manchester City was finally able to win the Champions League trophy after multiple close attempts on the field.
Their victory on a magnificent June night in Istanbul, secured by a superb goal from Rodri against Inter Milan, marked a memorable season in which they were also able to defend their Premier League title and claim the FA Cup.
This was a feat that had only been accomplished once before by Manchester United. City made it clear that they now hold the dominant position as they easily defeated their rivals at Wembley.
Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest goal recorded in an FA Cup final, after just 13 seconds, as City prevailed in an all-Manchester showpiece that was more convincing than the 2-1 scoreline suggested.
City’s victory in securing the title was truly remarkable, as they managed to make up an eight-point gap in the spring and surpass Arsenal. The most memorable moment of their triumph was a remarkable 4-1 win against the Gunners in April.
The team’s exceptional performance in both legs against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final was evident, with their 4-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium solidifying their potential for greatness.
Erling Haaland finished the 2022-23 campaign with an extraordinary 52 goals to his name yet the story of City’s season was of a fine team tuned to perfection by Pep Guardiola.
However, the club still faces a major issue as they were accused by the Premier League of 115 past violations of financial rules in February.
In other news, Manchester United broke their trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and Newcastle made a strong showing by securing a spot in the Champions League.
In 2021, West Ham claimed victory in the Europa Conference League, marking their first major championship win since 1980. This accomplishment was a long-awaited triumph for their experienced coach, David Moyes. Their win against Fiorentina in the final was also a bittersweet send-off for Declan Rice, who went on to sign with Arsenal.
Everton evaded relegation by the skin of their teeth with Leicester facing the drop instead, just six years after winning the Premier League. Luton, a mere 10 years after playing in the National League, defied the odds to win promotion.
In the realm of domestic competition, Celtic achieved success in all three major tournaments in the northern region. On the global stage, both England and Scotland earned a spot in Euro 2024. Wales is aiming to secure their place as well.
The World Cup in Australia heavily influenced the women’s game. Despite a strong performance by England, they ultimately lost the final to Spain due to a controversial incident involving Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales.
Chelsea has claimed victory in the Women’s Super League for the fourth consecutive year.
Source: independent.co.uk
