Growing up, I never supported any football club, but my life as a football fan changed one day when I was in secondary school. My older brother had just come back from Russia where he was studying, and we got into a conversation about football. I learned he was a big Manchester City fan, and the passion in his voice when he talked about the club was actually contagious. From that day on, I found myself drawn to Manchester City, and since then, I've been a die-hard supporter. I’ve followed their games season after season, even before Pep Guardiola joined as manager.
Back in those days, I’d go to the local game house with my uncle, who was a dedicated Chelsea fan, just to catch up with City matches. I remember how those outings were always filled with energy, with fans crowding the place, shouting and cheering their teams on. Supporting City has been an emotional journey for me. I’ve seen my team lift the Premier League, the FA Cup, and Carabao Cups multiple times, but despite all the silverware, one trophy always eluded us—the Champions League. And every time we came up short, rivals would mock us for "spending billions" and still not managing to get our hands on Europe’s biggest prize.
One of the most painful memories was a match against Nottingham Forest. I could hear their fans chanting, "Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that!" It struck a chord within me, because i believe we had done everything to prove ourselves as one of the best clubs in England, and yet we still couldn’t crack that final code to conquer Europe. When we finally reached the Champions League final against Chelsea, I thought this was our moment. But the disappointment that night was deep, especially seeing Aguero cry when we lost. Hearing the final whistle and realizing our dreams were crushed was a heartbreak that’s hard to put into words. We were so close, yet it felt like we would never win that title.
The journey continued, though, and we came back even stronger in the 2022/2023 Champions League season. I could feel something different about the team that year—the players, the tactics, and the hunger to win was actually on another level. I remember our quarter-final match against Bayern Munich; we absolutely destroyed them. And then, the semi-final against Real Madrid was a night I’ll never forget. Winning 4-0 against a team like Madrid felt surreal. Watching oustanding players like Vinicius struggle, seeing him look lost and frustrated on the pitch, was such a powerful moment as a City fan. For once, it felt like everything was clicking in our favor.
Then came the final against inter Milan, and it was the biggest day of my life as a Manchester City fan. I watched it with my course mates at school, and I can remember every moment vividly. I was on edge the entire game, praying, hoping, and just holding my breath every time Inter Milan got near our goal and i almost passed out when Akanji lost the ball that almost lead to a goal.
As the minutes ticked by, the tension only grew, and by the 65th minute, I was a nervous wreck. But then, Rodri scored. I can’t even begin to explain the emotions that i felt when that ball found the back of the net.
When Rodri scored that goal with an assist from Bernardo Silva, I felt a burst of joy like never before. I didn’t just smile or cheer—I cried. It was as if every moment of heartbreak, every mocking chant from rivals, every close call, and every year we fell short had all built up to this single moment of triumph. The entire game house erupted, and even though I was with my course mates, it felt like I was celebrating with every City fan in the world.
Seeing my team lift the Champions League trophy was a dream come true, a moment that made every single struggle worth it. There’s something incredibly special about watching your club go all the way and win Europe’s most prestigious trophy. It’s a different kind of joy, one that’s hard to capture in words because it goes beyond just football—it’s about loyalty, pride, and the feeling of finally reaching the top after years of trying.
Supporting City has been one of the most intense journeys of my life, and this Champions League win was the moment I’ll cherish forever. There’s truly no feeling like seeing your club lift that trophy, and the best part is knowing I was there, witnessing every step of the way.