Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have done it. After years of close calls and hearing all the talking points about how they could not do it on the big European stage, the Citizens defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in a tense 2023 Champions League Final in Istanbul.
Inter came agonizingly close to scoring on multiple occasions in the second half, and you have to give all the credit in the world to Simone Inzaghi for once again having the perfect gameplan to maximize the opportunities for his players to win. But ultimately, the Nerazzurri could not finish, which had been a massive issue for them throughout the season.
Here are the player ratings from a defining Champions League victory for Manchester City over Inter.
Manchester City Player Ratings
GK Ederson, 8.5 – His heroics were crucial to Manchester City hoisting the Champions League trophy. He made two big stops in the final minutes of the match, and he also deserves praise for coming out to catch the ball cleanly on a last-ditch free kick from André Onana that did look dangerous. Further, Ederson had a big stop earlier to deny Lautaro in the box.
CB Nathan Aké, 6.5
CB Rúben Dias, 8.0 – Made some big-time tackles and was never beaten one-on-one by either Lautaro Martínez or Romelu Lukaku. Rúben Dias was sensational throughout the 2022/23 Champions League season and deserves so much praise for all that he gives to Manchester City.
CB Manuel Akanji, 7.0
DM Rodri, 9.0 – A sublime finish to win the game for City, using two Inter defenders to swerve the ball and give Onana no chance at saving it. Rodri has been brilliant all season long at creating chances, threatening from range, and providing world-class defense. His passing and overall reading of the game were sublime. Rodri was the difference for City in this final.
DM John Stones, 8.0 – Another tremendous performance in midfield. Screened for the defense, progressed play in tight spaces up the middle, and played a nearly flawless passing game. Stones has matured into one of the best players in the world and a real chess piece for Pep Guardiola to utilize in the tactical battle for control.
AM İlkay Gündoğan, 7.0 – A professional display from the captain, who recorded two tackles and two interceptions to help Inter control the midfield for most of the match.
AM Phil Foden, 6.0 – Came in early for an injured Kevin De Bruyne. He wasn’t bad by any means and worked hard off the ball, but Foden ultimately didn’t look his sharpest in the attacking third.
LW Jack Grealish, 7.0 – The left winger was always in the battles and worked hard for the team on both ends of the pitch. Grealish isn’t talked about as much as Erling Haaland or De Bruyne, but he has a case for being City’s most consistent attacking contributor in the current UCL campaign.
RW Bernardo Silva, 6.0
ST Erling Haaland, 5.0 – Not at his best, Haaland cut a frustrated figure and wasn’t able to create enough pockets of space for himself against an organized Inter defense.
Inter Milan Player Ratings
GK André Onana, 7.0 – Played well in goal for Inter, making one big stop to deny Haaland early. He could do absolutely nothing about Rodri’s splendid goal.
CB Alessandro Bastoni, 6.0
CB Francesco Acerbi, 8.0 – The veteran center back more than held his own against Haaland, which was one of the big talking points coming into this final. Acerbi deserves all the praise in the world for how he has stepped up since joining Inter.
CB Matteo Darmian, 6.0
LM Federico Dimarco, 7.0 – Worked extremely hard for the team and came agonizingly close to scoring.
CM Hakan Çalhanoğlu, 5.0 – A disappointing performance. Getting on the ball isn’t easy as a midfielder against Manchester City, but Çalhanoğlu was basically a ghost. He wasn’t much better defensively either.
DM Marcelo Brozović, 7.0 – Covered a lot of ground defensively and worked as hard as anyone on the pitch, which is no easy task against the City midfield and how they set up. Composed on the ball, too.
CM Nicolò Barella, 6.5 – The fiery midfielder played a decent game for Inter but wasn’t quite great. That comes down to a lack of creativity, which is normally a standout part of his game.
RM Denzel Dumfries, 5.0 – He has to do more in these kinds of matches. Dumfries disappointed going forward and wasn’t active enough at breaking up play defensively.
ST Lautaro Martínez, 7.0 – The Argentinian striker created four chances for his teammates and had a positive performance, but the chance he didn’t create is one he will want back. He should have squared in Lukaku instead of going for goal.
ST Edin Džeko, 5.0 – His quality in the hold-up and link-up play simply wasn’t there.
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