Perfection and humiliation: these are the two words that most recur in the articles of English newspapers - but also those from all over Europe - that celebrate Manchester City's victory with Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. For the English the protagonist is Pep Guardiola, whose name stands out in the headlines of newspapers and websites. City is the "best English team ever", for The Independent who speaks of "Guardiola's most beautiful football spell": his City can aim for the "treble" that in England is renamed "Treble".
"Man City achieves perfection with humiliation," headlines the tabloid Sun that stings Real Madrid. In the inside pages with a play on words he refers to the four goals scored to the Spaniards: "Four-midable. Man City 4 Real Madrid 0: Pep's masterclass continues the march towards the Treble as the giants of the Champions League come out with a whistle". Perfection is the word that also chooses the Guardian for which, with a questionable war metaphor, City has achieved "the perfection of a perfectly executed military campaign".
"Here comes Treble. Pep Guardiola and Man City are just three games away from the historic Treble if they beat Chelsea, Man Utd and Inter." The excitement of the victory also involves the swampy Times who let themselves go to a: "Pep's team is probably the greatest of all time". He added: "It would be a sporting tragedy if such a great team did not win the biggest prize in European football."
The coach was also celebrated abroad. In France, L'Equipe headlines "City-titanic": "Guardiola's masterpiece. That's how the giant looked tiny." "Manchester City dethrones Real in a performance that annihilates them and makes them the favorites for the final," writes the New York Times. In Spain, Real ends up on trial. Marca headlines Guardiola as "the unnoticed player who killed Real". For Mundo Deportivo "The knockout in the Champions League accelerates everything in Real".