Thousands of Manchester City fans gathered to celebrate their team's historic Treble as they staged an open-top bus parade through the city as blue flares were set off and fans threw inflatable bananas in the air as several of the players went shirtless in the heavy rain. Manager Pep Guardiola was seen puffing on a cigar as fans climbed lampposts.
The parade was delayed by lightning storms. City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final. Guardiola said: "We had to have rain as this is Manchester. The fans are used to the rain." It comes after the club clinched the Premier League and FA Cup this season.
Guardiola said his side's Champions League success following Rodri's 68-minute goal was written in the stars. A drenched Guardiola was later seen pumping his fists to the crowd as the players showed off all three trophies.
Defender Ruben Dias and striker Erling Haaland were among several players who went shirtless after they were drenched in the rain. Haaland, 22, led the dancing players onto a stage as midfielder Kalvin Phillips serenaded England defender John Stones.
Guardiola hailed the fans for coming out in the storms. He said: "We had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise it is not Manchester. We don't want sunshine, we want rain, so it was perfect.
“The fans are used to the rain." Captain Ilkay Gundogan said that it was incredible that they had three trophies. England midfielder Jack Grealish said: "For the past 24 hours, I have had the best day and night.
"To be fair, I don't think I have slept." The team had departed from Tonman Street, Deansgate and travelled to St Mary's Gate before travelling through Cross Street and King Street and finishing on the corner of Princess Street and Portland Street.
City became just the second English men's team to win the Treble, following in the footsteps of city rivals Manchester United, who achieved the feat in 1999. The team were welcomed back by fans at Manchester Airport on Sunday after travelling from Istanbul, where the European final was played.
Former City boss Joe Royle - who led the club from the third tier to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions in 1999 and 2000 - said Guardiola's current side was one of the best teams English football had ever seen. "They're one of, if not the best English club side there has been," he said.
