Pep Guardiola saw a year of pain and criticism pour out onto the Etihad pitch as Manchester City avenged their semi-final defeat at the hands of Real Madrid with a thumping victory.
City beat Real at this stage of the Champions League last year 4-3 in the first leg and went another goal up at the Bernabeu, only to concede two goals in injury time and lose the tie in extra time to suffer another painful exit from a competition they are yet to win. An impressive 1-1 draw last week left this year's contest in the balance but Guardiola's team swept to a 4-0 win at the Etihad to confirm their place against Inter Milan next month.
Guardiola had been at pains to tell his players not to seek revenge in this game as he spent the build-up to both legs playing down the importance of it. However, once it had concluded the manager lifted the lid on how he and the squad had embraced the idea of taking on the criticism they had received for their disappointment last season.
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"I had the feeling these last days that we had a mix of calm and tension to play this type of game. After 10 or 15 minutes, I had the feeling that all the pain that we had during one year from what happened last season was there today," he said.
"It was so hard and tough last season when he we played quite similar to today and I remember Toni Kroos gave an interview saying they could have lost 10-1 or 10-2 at the Etihad. Kroos is one of the best players I have ever seen and trained and when he says that it means we were there and it was really tough losing the way we lose.
"In that moment, we had to swallow poison and football and sport always gives you another chance. When the draw was Madrid, I said 'yeah I want it'. I wanted it because I think today everything was there - the energy we had from a year of being criticised as players for not having character when we [actually] lost because it was football.
"Today it was there and I'm pleased for the whole organisation - for the chairman, owner, staff and especially all the players because we accepted the defeat and today we were there. One year later, we are in the final of the Champions League."
City are still in contention to win a historic Treble this season, one game away from glory in three competitions as they seek to do what only United have managed before in English football. Guardiola praised the humility of his players as he referenced their streak of Carabao Cup victories between 2018 and 2021 to demonstrate why they have been so consistently outstanding.
"Football and life always give you opportunities if you don't give up. What is important to be there," he said.
"We are one game away from winning the Premier League for three years in a row, and we have been in two Champions League finals and one semi-final. That is consistency.
"I always put the example of being Carabao Cup winners for four years in a row. That means the level of this team.
"There is one incredible detail in this team that I'm so proud of: they are so humble. It doesn't matter the competition or competition, they take every game seriously because they are so humble.
"I hate arrogance in sport, the moment that you believe you are something you are not. These guys have not done this for many years and today we got the reward they deserve.
"A final against an Italian team, people will say we are favourites and that is the worst that can happen but we have time to prepare and now we focus on Chelsea because we have to try to close the Premier League as soon as possible because we have to prepare for United and Inter Milan.
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