Manchester City added the Super Cup on Wednesday to the Treble they prestigiously claimed last term with a narrow victory over Sevilla on penalties in Athens.
Left with no choice but to come from behind, the Cityzens forced penalties after a brilliant header from Youssef En-Nesyri put the Europa League holders ahead in the first half. Cole Palmer – who was also the Player-of-the-match – equalised for City with a delightful arching header, rising at the far post in the 63rd minute to seize the equalizer.
The tense finale concluded with Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj missing the crucial spot kick right after Kyle Walker had netted City’s fifth successful shoot-out penalty.
On the Super Cup victory Guardiola added: “I would say of course we are not in the best, best moment but knowing the players and the mentality of the backroom staff, I had a feeling that we will try.
“We are really pleased to have already one title in this season. I am really pleased for the club – this title we didn’t have and now we have it. A tight game like this happened in the [Champions League] final against Inter.
“We also lost a tight game in the last minute against Arsenal [in the Community Shield]. Football in these stages, at that moment, is a coin [flip].
“Now it is just one thing to finish full circle and have all the titles this club can have. It’s happening in December when we go to Saudi Arabia to play the [Club] World Cup.”
Immediately after the Super Cup triumph, Guardiola directed a sarcastic jibe at the Premier League for not moving City’s impending Saturday match against Newcastle United to a Sunday or Monday to allow City players sufficient time to recover, saying in his press conference: “Of course, tomorrow we will be even happier than today, recovering [having had] not one drop of alcohol.
“[We need to] recover as much as possible because, again, from Greece, thank you so much to the Premier League for letting us play on Saturday, and not on Sunday and Monday. Thank you so much.”
Guardiola has long been a vocal critic of the Premier League fixture congestion, insisting that players aran the high risk of suffering injuries playing too much football.