'The best feeling I've ever had': Blues ecstatic and in disbelief over treble-winning side

Ecstasy and disbelief were etched into the faces of Manchester City fans in equal measures as die-hard blues watched their team complete a historic treble.

Fans at a lively and vociferous Mary D’s Bar, situated opposite City’s home of the Etihad Stadium, went wild as Rodri’s goal thundered in to take the lead in the Champions League final. They went wilder still when the final whistle blew.

It was a whistle that confirmed Pep Guardiola’s team had made history, in becoming only the second English side to complete a treble. It was also a whistle that, for many City fans, confirmed something they would never see in supporting the blues.

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I never thought it would happen,” an ecstatic Citizen Jimmy Chapman, who travelled all the way from Haslingden, told the Manchester Evening News. “I have been all over the country [supporting them]. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had, along with getting married and having kids.”

Mike Koszla, from Rochdale, was also in ‘disbelief’. He added: “What the team has done… they deserve it. I’ve been to Maine Road, my mum was at the Gillingham play-off. I am ecstatic.”

And Jo Hewlett, who made the trek from Whitefield, added: “It does not feel real. Manchester is blue. Europe is blue!”

Throughout the night, fans inside Mary D’s sang for their idols — and got their reward for unendingly powerful support. Even with The Weeknd’s sold-out show at the Eithad next door, leaving the venue made it clear the loudest cheers had been reserved for the boys in blue.

At full-time, some fans leaped for joy. Others led song. Some embraced strangers. But others wept, in relief and in pride, over what their team had done.

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