On April 29, 1970, Manchester City’s gamers lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup trophy into the darkish, moist Austrian sky. This was the primary European trophy within the membership’s historical past.
Joe Mercer’s City had proven power, high quality and willpower to win a bruising encounter in opposition to Polish outfit Górnik Zabrze. The workforce of the late Sixties, together with Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Tony Book, and Mike Summerbee, are nonetheless thought-about legends to at the present time, even when they by no means fairly hit the world-beating heights of Pep Guardiola’s facet.
The present crop of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League winners final season is perhaps the best City workforce, they usually have the historic Treble and now Club World Cup to show it, however the class of ’70 have been the primary City facet to win a European trophy. Their journey to victory began with disappointment and a need for redemption.
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City bagged the Division One title in 1968 and entered the European Cup for the primary time, nevertheless, their journey did not go as anticipated once they have been matched with Fenerbahce in spherical one. Assistant Malcolm Allison boldly claimed City would ‘go on and terrify Europe,’ however that wasn’t how issues turned out.
A 0-0 at Maine Road was adopted by a 2-1 defeat in Istanbul in opposition to Fenerbahce. The Blues would not see Champions League motion once more till 2011.
Despite this upset, City bounced again stronger, clinching the FA Cup after defeating Leicester City 1-0 at Wembley the identical season. This victory led to their entry into the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup, the place they discovered success.
City’s captain Tony Book recalled the expertise. “Going out to Fenerbahce undoubtedly did give us all that additional little bit of incentive,” he stated. “It was an enormous disappointment going out as we did. We have been at all times a workforce that was seeking to go a bit additional than we might and it did actually serve to make us extra decided.”
City went on a grand European tour, enjoying in Belgium, Portugal and Germany, earlier than heading to Austria for the ultimate. They began their journey in Spain at Bilbao’s well-known San Mames stadium, home of Athletic Club.
A yr earlier, Mercer’s workforce had struggled with the extraordinary ambiance in Istanbul, and it appeared like they might crumble below strain in Bilbao too. With 40,000 passionate followers cheering them on, Athletic Club rapidly took a 2-0 lead. Neil Young managed to attain one for City, however the hosts quickly regained their two-goal lead.
City have been new to Europe, and as Mike Summerbee later stated, they did not have the crafty and street-smarts of their rivals.
“I do not forget that sport very nicely as Ronnie Allen was the supervisor of Bilbao again then and the night time earlier than once we went to coach, Ronnie had organized to place us on a discipline lined in all kinds of canine muck and what have you ever,” Summerbee recalled.
“Bilbao was a wild scene and wild place. They have been robust guys up there within the Basque nation and it was a really onerous bodily match,” Francis Lee remembered.
But in opposition to all odds, City fought again and saved the match. Tommy Booth scored one other aim for City and a late own-goal secured a draw. City confirmed their brilliance within the return leg at Maine Road, profitable 3-0 and shifting into the second spherical to face Belgian facet Lierse.
Manchester City moved previous the part-timers with an 8-0 mixture win, resulting in a difficult match in opposition to Portugal’s Academica de Coimbra. The menacing black-shirted squad put up a troublesome battle, however City managed to return home unscathed with a draw.
Reflecting on the sport at Maine Road, City defender Tommy Booth remembered: “At Maine Road, there was a nook that we have been defending, the ball got here throughout and I assumed: ‘That’s mine’ and 5 minutes later, I really awoke!”
City’s victory over event favourites Schalke 04 within the semi-final was significantly notable. After dropping the primary leg 1-0 in Germany, they made a unprecedented comeback within the second leg at a crowded Maine Road.
Mike Doyle equalised early within the match, adopted by a speedy double from Young which firmly put City forward. Then Lee and Bell added extra, leading to a 5-1 thrashing which Lee regards as one among City’s best-ever showings.
“We performed fantastically nicely in that second leg, it was an unbelievable show,” he stated. Helmut Schon, who managed Germany on the time, named that City squad the very best UK workforce he had ever seen.
But then earlier than the ultimate, City suffered blow when key participant Summerbee broke his leg.
Mercer’s workforce could not take their difficult winger with them to the match in opposition to Gornik Zabrze, however they did deliver Manchester’s typical climate and a fortunate equipment. The sport was performed in heavy rain, with City carrying their black and pink away strip.
The thought to undertake AC Milan’s colors was Allison’s, hoping to reflect the Italian workforce’s success. City had worn this equipment once they gained the League Cup two months earlier, and its affiliation with victory was strengthened on the Praterstadion.
Lee, celebrating his twenty sixth birthday, arrange Young’s opening aim after 12 minutes, after which scored a penalty simply earlier than half-time. Despite Gornik Zabrze scoring a aim 20 minutes from the top, City held on to win.
This victory marked the primary time City might really take into account themselves amongst Europe’s high groups. Before the sport, Allison emphasised to the gamers the significance of succeeding in Europe, saying: “You’ve proved your self in England however if you wish to be classed as a high workforce, you have now bought to win in Europe,”
Now, City have not simply accomplished it in Europe, they’ve accomplished it in entrance of all the world.
* An AI software was used so as to add an additional layer to the modifying course of for this story.
