An important member of Manchester City's technical staff has revealed what he told manager Pep Guardiola in the aftermath of defeat in the Champions League final.
City lost the final 1-0 to Chelsea in Porto thanks to a Kai Havertz goal, denying the Blues their first taste of glory in European club football's premier competition.
Manel Estiarte, whose official title is Head of Player Support and Protocol at the club, spoke to Tuttosport AM about what he told his fellow Catalonian after the final.
"Before and after the final, I told Pep that this season is his masterpiece," Estiarte said.
"It was a tough year, with no public and different from the previous ones.
"Yet we won the championship, the League Cup and we reached the Champions League final."
Estiarte, who has been described as the Maradona of water polo for his outstanding career in the sport, is one of Guardiola's most trusted generals, having worked together at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before reuniting at City.
