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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Sophie Halle-Richards & Stephen Topping & James Holt

"It's history - nobody can take this from us" - Manchester City brave storm to celebrate a historic treble with huge parade

On the brink of tears, a lifelong Manchester City fan sums up what it all means. "I got back at 4am from Istanbul and haven't stopped crying. It's history - nobody can take this from us."

And not even a huge thunderstorm could take this momentous occasion away from the thousands of devoted fans who braved the weather to line the streets of the city centre - as the treble-winning team were paraded along Deansgate in an open-top bus.

As the rain lashed down, and fan's soaking blue shirts clung to their bodies, nobody seemed the slightest bit bothered. As the sound of rain got louder, so did their cheers.

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Even as the thunder rumbled on, and lightning bolts were spotted across the Manchester skyline - it only appeared to add to the atmosphere.

A shirtless Erling Haaland defied the storm, whilst Pep Guardiola was captured enjoying a soggy cigar - as the team weaved their way through a sea of blue along Deansgate.

Clutching all three trophies tightly, the squad waved to adoring fans who watched eagerly below - waving banners, letting off blue flares and chanting their favourite songs.

Pep Guardiola (left) smokes a cigar next to goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor during the Treble Parade in Manchester. (PA)

Before the heavens opened, lifelong fans of the club spoke of what the treble-win meant to them and their families, many of whom remember the 'dark days' before all the victories.

Dylan Morgan, 23, a lifelong Blues fan from Crumpsall only arrived home from Istanbul in the early hours of this morning, after travelling to watch the Champions League final.

"I remember 2008 I was eight years of age and United had just won the Champions League final," he recalled. "I was one of just four city fans at school that day.

"Half an hour before school opened they ran a massive banner across the school ‘Manchester United Champions of Europe’ in red. We'd just been beat 8-1 by Middlesbrough. I went home and said to my dad: 'Why. What’s it all about.'

"But days like this… this is religion. I don’t care where I go after life. All I care about is that I supported a club and watched seven titles in eleven years, and watched a dozen trophies."

Lee Hookway travelled four hours from Suffolk with his son Nathan, who had just finished a GCSE exam before jumping in the car to make his way to Manchester.

Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland celebrate as rain pours during the Treble Parade in Manchester. (PA)

"It’s a big day for us," he said. "It’s not happened in a long time so I think it’s great for us to be here today. I have come straight from a GCSE exam four hours to here.

"It has been the best summer because we’ve finally got the Champions League which everyone has always had against us but we won it so it’s great to see it finally happen."

"It’s remarkable," dad, Lee added. "We were toying with whether to come during GCSEs and how important is it but it may be such a long time until it happens again (although probably not that long my son says!)"

For Dominic Bates, it was the relief of City's win in Europe that cemented what has been an incredible season for his team.

"It's a relief to be honest," he said. "It was tense towards the end of the season but we always knew regardless of what happened in Europe, we were always going to be happy with the FA Cup and Premier League.

"I've always said as well for city, it's the Premier League or nothing. We are always held to other people's expectations. They move the goalposts every season for us.

"They say you need to win a major cup which we've done, you need to win the Premier League which we've done, you need to win the title which we've done, and defend that Premier League title which we've done. And then they said we had to win in Europe which we've done, so all I've got to say to them is cry more."

Jack Grealish of Manchester City looks on as players of Manchester City ride on a Metrolink Tram (Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Ahead of the parade, which started outside Beetham Tower and ended with a stage show on the other side of town, the treble-winning team were spotted sticking to their local roots - on board a tram.

Stars such as Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Aymeric Laporte, Erling Haaland, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, and Ederson were captured smiling and laughing as they made their way to Deansgate.

The start of the parade had to be pushed back by half an hour - to 7pm instead of 6.30 - to allow the eye of the storm to pass. But that didn't deter fans from turning out in their thousands.

Ken Lees has been a fan for 50 years (MEN Media)

Ken Lees had made his way into the city from Oldham. Donning his blue and white shirt as he took shelter, he said: "I've been a city fan for 50 years. It's unbelievable this time. We're there now.

"And it's great that the players know the history of the club. That's why we all started crying when we won it. All three... I can't believe it. Never in my lifetime."

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