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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay in Istanbul

Manchester City’s European ascent is a total victory for politics in football

Manchester City's owners at the Champions League final
Manchester City's owners were at the Champions League final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Well, that’s that done. So. What now? Perhaps the funniest moment of the Champions League final at a distant, smoke‑tainted Ataturk Stadium was the sight of the tuxedo-clad Hungarian classical musician Adam Gyorgy thundering his way through the tournament tune on a gleaming pitchside grand piano pre‑kick‑off, trying really hard to give this hammy faux‑anthem some verve and twinkle.

All the while, 100 metres off to his left, 10,000 blue-shirted Manchester City fans doggedly booed every flourish, every attempt to inject a little feeling into the occasion. No, Adam. Please. It’s really not you. It’s just, well, it’s kind of a long story.

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