MANCHESTER: Manchester was bathed in blue on Monday and even a thunderstorm could not dent Manchester City’s rousing victory parade as the players and manager Pep Guardiola celebrated completing the long-awaited treble after winning the Champions League trophy over the weekend.

City players soaked their already drenched fans with champagne during the delayed open-top bus parade that marked the club’s most successful season — when they followed their victorious runs in the FA Cup and Premier League with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday that secured them their first European Cup title.

The blue half of Manchester were all euphoric as the team and fans also celebrated becoming only the second English club to win the treble, equalling the 1999 milestone of their fierce rivals Manchester United.

“What a parade, what an afternoon, it had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise is not Manchester,” said Premier League manager of the year Guardiola in front of thousands of fans. “It has to be like that, no sunshine. We want rain. The perfect way.”

Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, who scored twice against United to claim the FA Cup title nine days ago, each showed off one of the trophies they won.

Erling Haaland was just one of City’s stars who appeared on stage topless, while England duo Jack Grealish and Kalvin Philips appeared to be suffering the effects of 48 hours of celebration.

“Basically for the past 24 hours, I’ve had the best day and night. To be fair, I don’t think I’ve slept,” said Grealish before Phillips poured some alcohol into his mouth.

Elton John weighed in with a video tribute — just over a week after the 76-year-old pop icon bumped into City players on the tarmac at the Manchester airport after the FA Cup win. Players had serenaded John by signing “Your Song.”

“You did it, I’m so happy and thrilled for you all,” John said. “What a season, what an achievement. Enjoy the celebrations in Manchester, you deserve it.”

The City delegation jetted back from Istanbul to Manchester on Sunday but many of the squad immediately headed off on a private jet to Ibiza for a second night of partying.

For City supporters there was the extra glee in ensuring United’s treble is no longer a unique achievement.

City lived in the shadow of their neighbours for decades as Alex Ferguson built a dynasty at Old Trafford in 27 years in charge of United between 1986 and 2013.

But an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of City in 2008 turned the tables in the rivalry as Guardiola’s men have claimed five Premier League titles in six seasons to become the dominant force of English football.

“How times have changed,” said office worker Sarah Morris, 27. “This is like the dream. I could never have imagined this.”

Even those not old enough to remember United’s treble think it may never get any better for City having finally ended their wait for Champions League glory.

“I’m 21, but it can’t get any better than this. It’s all downhill from here”, said student Tom Kennedy, bedecked in a City bucket hat and shirt.

For the older generation, there is still a sense of disbelief at how City have gone on to conquer Europe. In the season United did their treble 24 years ago, City were in the third tier of English football.

“It’s unbelievable,” said retired fan Gary Henley, 63. “We’ve been down the leagues, we’ve been there when we didn’t win anything for ages. We went 35 years without a trophy. Now we’ve won the treble. It’s unreal. “

As the players left the stage, the celebrations seemed far from over for the City fans who were ready to party on long into the night.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2023